Photo courtesy of: stmatthewskenton.org
“Believe, for with God all things are possible.” This quotation was taken from the Gospel of St. Matthew, 19:26.
As we commemorate his feast day annually, are we already knowledgeable enough of St. Matthew more than just he being one of the twelve apostles and one of the four evangelists according to the Christian bible? If not that much, here is the chance to get to know him further.
Matthew (meaning “Yahweh’s gift”) also called as Levi, was born in Palestine in the 1st century and is known to be the son of Alpheus. Before being one with Christ, he worked at Capernaum as a tax collector, which is considered as a loathed job during his time. Jesus saw him above a tree, and was asked to go down to follow him. Even though being criticized for inviting a transgressor to dinner, Jesus told the scribes of the Pharisees, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:15-17). There Matthew left his job, and his life began to change forever. He preached the word of Christ and his doings, that sharpened the faith of people to the Messiah and his promise of salvation.
Several years after the death of Christ, Matthew registered his gospel account which tells the same story in the New Testament. He wrote the book in Aramaic (a Semitic language; Syrian dialect), hoping this would encourage his fellowmen to nurture their faith to Jesus and that his kingdom has been fulfilled in a spiritual way; For this is an important message during the time when everyone was fully expecting that the Messiah will return brandishing a sword.
St. Matthew is often characterized with one of the four living creatures of Revelation 4:7 which indicates, “The first living creature was like a lion, the second like a bull, the third living creature had a human face, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.”
His death was never proved to be caused of it’s either natural death nor if he was martyred, but it is thought that he escaped from persecution yet never been found again. Nevertheless, St. Matthew will always be adored for he became a faithful disciple of the Lord.
The church established his feast day on the 21st of September, and became the patron saint of bankers and accountants.
Prayer to St. Matthew
O Glorious St. Matthew, in your Gospel you portray Jesus as the longed-for Messiah who fulfilled the Prophets of the Old Covenant and as the new Lawgiver who founded a Church of the New Covenant.
Obtain for us the grace to see Jesus living in his Church and to follow his teachings in our lives on earth so that we may live forever with him in heaven. Amen. (Maria Angela Patrice M. Mabutol)
Maria Angela Patrice M. Mabutol
Junior Writer, Website Team, MPIM
Maria Angela Patrice M. Mabutol is a senior high school student at Eastern Star Academy and is currently taking HUMSS Strand under Academic Track. She was a former member and writer of Aranzes Journal at NSDAPS. Aside from being passionate in writing, she is also into photography and music. Angela is a firm believer that life is just a matter of perspective that if you change your view, the rest will follow. Being a part of Media and Public Information Ministry is honestly a dream come true for her, as she will be able to express her faith not just from being an active member of the church in common ways, but through her talent and skills that she thinks people deserve to be shared with.
