St. Matthew – Apostle and Evangelist

Who Is St. Matthew?

St. Matthew is one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, and his feast day is celebrated on September 21st. He was a tax collector before he met Jesus and was known as Levi. The story of his conversion is an inspiring one, and his life serves as an example of the transforming power of God’s grace.

In the Gospel of Matthew, he tells us that he was sitting at the tax collector’s booth when Jesus came by and said, “Follow me.” Matthew immediately got up and followed him. This act of leaving his lucrative job as a tax collector to follow Jesus shows his deep faith in Christ and willingness to serve Him.

After his conversion, St. Matthew became a faithful disciple of Jesus, traveling with Him and learning from Him. He was present at the Last Supper, the Garden of Gethsemane, and the Crucifixion. After the Resurrection, he continued to spread the Gospel and was instrumental in establishing the Church.

St. Matthew’s Gospel is unique in its focus on the Jewish audience. He emphasized how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies, making it clear that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah. His Gospel includes the Sermon on the Mount, which teaches us how to live as disciples of Christ, and the parables, which teach us about the Kingdom of God.

St. Matthew’s life teaches us that no matter how far we may have strayed from God, it is never too late to turn back to Him. His conversion story reminds us that God’s grace is always available to us if we are willing to repent and follow Him. Saint Matthew’s example challenges us to be willing to leave everything behind to follow Christ, to trust in His promises, and to spread the Good News to others.

As we celebrate the life and legacy of Saint Matthew, let us pray that we may be inspired by his example and follow Christ more closely in our lives. May we be open to the transforming power of God’s grace and share the Gospel message with all those we encounter. Saint Matthew, pray for us.

Symbol

St. Matthew’s symbol is the winged man. This symbol is often used to represent St. Matthew in religious artwork and iconography. The winged man represents the human nature of St. Matthew and his authorship of the Gospel of Matthew, which emphasizes Christ’s humanity and His fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.

In the book of Ezekiel, the prophet has a vision of four living creatures, each with four faces and four wings. One of these creatures is described as having the face of a man and the wings of an eagle. This vision is often associated with the four evangelists, and the winged man symbol of St. Matthew is believed to be a representation of this vision of Ezekiel.

Patron Saint of….

He is the patron saint of accountants, bankers, and civil servants.

Daily Mass Readings for the Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist

• First Reading – Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13: Paul urges the believers to live a life worthy of their calling, with humility, gentleness, patience, and love, striving for unity in the Spirit. He emphasizes the importance of each member of the body of Christ using their spiritual gifts to build up the church and attain maturity, until we all reach the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 19: This psalm speaks of the message of God’s glory and handiwork being proclaimed by the heavens and firmament. The message is said to be heard throughout the earth, as day and night pour out knowledge and resound with the voice of God.
• Gospel – Matthew 9:9-13: Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector, to be his disciple. He then eats with sinners and tax collectors, causing the Pharisees to criticize him, but Jesus responds that he has come to call sinners to repentance and not the righteous.