Feast of St. Matthew
St. Matthew, Apostle, Evangelist and Martyr. A wealthy tax collector, he abandoned all his worldly interests to enthusiastically follow the Divine Master. According to tradition, he preached in Palestine and later in Ethiopia, where he received the palm of martyrdom while preaching.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Eph 4:1-7, 11-13
Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. And He gave some as Apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps: 19:2-3, 4-5 (R. 5)
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims His handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge. R.
Not a word nor a discourse
whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
and to the ends of the world, their message. R.
Gospel – Mt 9:9-13
As Jesus passed by, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. While He was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
Featured Saints
St. Castor of Apt, bishop (†c. 426). To instruct the monks of a monastery in Provence, France, under his jurisdiction on the excellence of monastic life, he wrote to St. John Cassian; the latter, in response, penned the famous “Conferences” on the ascetics of Egypt.
St. Jonah, prophet. An Old Testament book bears his name, relating how he was sent by God to preach in Nineveh. His expulsion from the belly of the whale is presented in the Gospel as prefigure of the Resurrection of Christ.
St Quadratus (second century). Disciple of the Apostles and the first Christian apologist.
St. Maura, virgin (†850). French noblewoman, who with her prayers and example, attained the conversion of her father. She stimulated her brother to embrace the priesthood and dedicated her wealth to supporting the Church.
St. Cadoc, abbot (†sixth century). Superior of the Monastery of Llancarfan, Wales. Many monasteries were founded in his name in Cornwall, England, and in Lower Brittany, France, and in Scotland.
Blessed Mark Scalabrini of Modena , priest (†1498). Dominican preacher of persuasive eloquence who drew many wayward souls to the right path. He died in Pesaro, Italy.
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