The Feast Of St Matthew

So very little is known about St. Matthew. what we do know is that he was a tax collector or publican in the town of Capernaum.  According to the Gospels of Mark and Luke, Matthew was originally called Levi son of Alphaeus{~Mark 2:13 and Luke 5:27} Although Mark and Luke do not mention Matthew by name their accounts match up with Matthews own account. The name change was not   unusual, many people had their names changed after an encounter with God. We can think of Abram became Abraham, Jacob became Israel, Simon became Peter and Saul became Paul. Can you imagine how Matthew felt when Christ conferred on him a new name meaning "gift of God "

As a tax collector, Matthew would have been a man despised by his own people. He worked for the Roman government and the tax collectors would often enrich themselves by collecting higher taxes than were due to line their own pockets. But an encounter with Christ radically changed his life.

 For me the call of Matthew speaks very deeply about the character of Christ. Matthew must have seen something in Jesus that spoke so deeply in his heart, that at the moment Jesus looked at him and said "follow me" something must have stirred deep down for Matthew to be able to walk away and leave his very lucrative job behind. And leave it behind he did, he went and hosted a large banquet for Jesus and his companions. He also invited many other tax collectors and "sinners" to the feast. This upset the Pharisees,{ so easily done!} who felt, that,  just to be in the same vicinity of one of those "unclean" people would mean that they themselves were tarnished. They asked the disciples why would Jesus entertain such an idea. On hearing this Jesus gave an answer which must bring hope and joy to every sinners heart, " Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice." For I came not to call the righteous but sinners."
Wow! Dont those words fill you with hope?

Jesus was making it quite clear that those who knew they needed a Saviour were in much better standing than those who thought they had got their religion all sorted out and were managing quite well on their own thank you very much.

What became of Matthew? after Pentecost know one really knows. Some say he was martyred, but there is no conclusive evidence for this. It is thought that he travelled extensively carrying the gospel message with him. But one thing is for sure, Matthew had a lucrative life and a secure job and after a real encounter with Christ he walked away from it all for a life of travelling and hardship.