Saint Matthew, Apostle, Evangelist
Ephesians 4:1-7,11-13 | Psalm 18:2-5 | Matthew 9:9-13
Matthew was a tax collector.
Not a popular man to be sure, he was probably despised by the general populace, and probably had his life threatened at one point on another. After all, who likes to pay taxes?
Then Jesus crossed his path, and his life was never the same again.
Of course, he was still looked down upon by his countrymen, but we today reap the fruits of his labours as an evangelist and author of one of the canonical Gospels. Not bad for someone whose profession consisted of taking money from unwilling ordinary folk.
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Sometimes, the people who cross our paths are less than friendly, or their general behaviour might be un-Christian, or perhaps they might even “smell bad”. We might try to minimise our contact with them, and maybe even ask “Lord, why did you bring this person into my life?”
I believe each and every person is brought into my life for a reason. For instance:
- My oldest friend, a staunch atheist, has been instrumental in bolstering my faith, by asking all the questions about what I believe and do that I never thought to ask myself.
- A brash client some years back gave me a really hard time on a project, which got me rather upset, until I found out from one of his subordinates that he was battling cancer, and this project would likely be his last. I then realised that what I saw as nasty behaviour was really a driving passion, possibly fueled by mortal desperation. Since then, I’ve tried to approach each thing I do in the manner that every priest is encouraged to celebrate mass – as my first (enthusiasm), my last (finality), and my only task (focus).
- Many pilgrims I’ve travelled with have struck me as rather odd folk, until they share with everyone their own life stories. I’ve never failed to marvel at some aspect of their lives or conversion stories that led them to this time and place, and while I may still be occasionally annoyed by their behaviour, I don’t dwell on it any further.
Likewise, I’m sure more than a few people think me a rather odd duck, by turns passionate and head-scratchingly insane. I’ve never been a people-person, so my reactions to interactions with and around me would probably puzzle many folks. Still, I hope I’ve provoked at least one person to see their relationship with Christ in a different light, as so many people have helped me do the same.
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(For everyone who’s read this far, expecting a rooster payoff, here it is.)
On the way to Waterford in Ireland yesterday, our coach captain Mark (hey, evangelical shout-out!) happened to play a CD of Irish pub tunes. Hidden among a dozen drinking and wooing songs was this hilarious ditty that, in my mind, perfectly encapsulates Jesus’ effect on Matthew, the apostles, and countless people till this day. I’ve never likened Christ to a rooster before, and I don’t expect to repeat it after today, but the coincidence was just too rich to pass up.
THE ROOSTER (Fair Isle Folk)
We had some chickens, no eggs would they lay
We had some chickens, no eggs would they lay
Oh the wife said “honey, we’re losing money” (oh yeah)
Because them chickens, no eggs would they layThen came a rooster into our yard
And he caught them chickens right off of their guard
They’re laying eggs now like they never used to
Since that rooster came into our yard