Patrick Comerford
Next Tuesday, 21 September 2021, is the feast of Saint Matthew.
The readings in the Revised Common Lectionary, as adapted for use in the Church of Ireland, are:
The Readings: Proverbs 3: 13-18; Psalm 119: 65-72; II Corinthians 4: 1-6; Matthew 9: 9-13
Saint Matthew the Evangelist is one of the Twelve and is identified with both the author of the first of the four gospels and with Levi the publican or tax collector in the Gospels according to Saint Mark and Saint Luke.
The Hebrew name Mattityahu (מתי/מתתיהו, Ματθαίος) means ‘Gift of of the Lord’ (see Matthew 10L 3; Mark 3: 18; Luke 6: 15; Acts 1: 13).
According to tradition, Saint Matthew was the son of Alpheus a publican or a tax collector by profession. He was the Levi in the Gospels according to Saint Mark and Saint Luke, and was called to be a disciple while he was sitting in the tax collectors’ place at Capernaum.
The rabbis discuss tax collectors in the same vein as other criminals such as robbers (see b. Sanh 43a).
We know little about Saint Matthew’s subsequent career – and what little we know is little more than speculation and legend.
The rabbis mntion that ‘Matthai’ was a disciple of Yeshu (see b. Sanh 43a). Saint Irenaeus says Matthew preached the Gospel among the Hebrews, Saint Clement of Alexandria claims he did this for 15 years, and Eusebius maintains that, before going into other countries, he gave them his Gospel in his mother tongue.
Some ancient writers say Saint Matthew later worked in Ethiopia to the south of the Caspian Sea – not Ethiopia in Africa; others say he worked in Persia, Parthia, Macedonia or Syria. According to Heracleon, who is quoted by Clement of Alexandria, Saint Matthew did not die a martyr. But other accounts, including the Roman Martyrology, say he died a martyr’s death in Ethiopia.
Like the other evangelists, Saint Matthew is often depicted in Christian art as one of the four living creatures of Revelation (4: 7) – in Saint Matthew’s case, a winged man carrying a lance in his hand.
Some years ago, I spent some hours in the Uffizi in Florence, one of the greatest art galleries in the world, paying particular attention to the great works of religious art. The collection of works by Florentine artists includes Orcagna’s Triptych of Saint Matthew.
The powerful Guild of Moneychangers or Bankers commissioned Andrea di Cione (1343-1368), also known as Orcagna, by to paint this triptych for their pilaster in the Church of Orsanmichele, the church of the Florentine Guilds.
Orcagna was a painter, sculptor and architect, and he was a consultant in 1357 and in 1364-1367 at the building of the Duomo or Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, which we had visited earlier the same day.
The painting was commissioned on 15 September 1367, but Orcagna died within a year on 25 August 1368, and the task of completing this great work of art passed to his younger brother, Jacopo di Cione, who finished it in 1369.
In the completed painting, the central panel of Saint Matthew is flanked by four smaller panels with images from the stories and myths that grew up about the moneychanger-turned-evangelist: the Miracle of the Two Dragons; the Calling of Matthew; the Resurrection of King Egippus’ son; and the Martyrdom of the Saint.
In the panel showing the calling of Saint Matthew, Levi the tax collector has jumped up, startled, leaving his young assistant sitting at a table to continue counting the day’s proceeds. Christ holds the Gospels in his left hand and with his right hand points to the other disciples he is summoning Levi.
Surprised by the intrusion and the call, the startled Levi hoplds up his joined hands, as if to plead to be left alone. He appears to be asking: 'Why me?’
Today, Saint Matthew is regarded as the patron saint of accountants and bankers. Given the unsaintly performance of our bankers in recent years, I can hardly imagine that the prospect of being the patron saint of bankers was a good career move for this tax collector. But then, Christ came not to call the righteous but sinners to salvation.
Perhaps Matthew should be the patron saint of those who answer God’s call to ministry, clergy and laity. Perhaps none of us should be worried about how we are remembered, whether people get it right about where we worked in ministry and mission, or whether they even get our names right.
As long as we answer that call when it comes, and abandon everything else, including career prospects and the possibility of wealth, to answer that call faithfully and fully.
Matthew 9: 9-13 (NRSVA):
9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.
10 And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax-collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and sinners?’ 12 But when he heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’
Liturgical resources:
Liturgical colour: Red
Penitential Kyries:
Lord, you are gracious and compassionate.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
You are loving to all,
and your mercy is over all your creation.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Your faithful servants bless your name,
and speak of the glory of your kingdom.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
The Collect:
O almighty God,
whose blessed Son called Matthew the tax-collector
to be an apostle and evangelist:
Give us grace to forsake the selfish pursuit of gain
and the possessive love of riches;
that we may follow the way of your Son Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Introduction to the Peace:
We are fellow citizens with the saints
and the household of God,
through Christ our Lord,
who came and preached peace to those who were far off
and those who were near (Ephesians 2: 19, 17).
The Preface:
In the saints
you have given us an example of godly living,
that rejoicing in their fellowship,
we may run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
and with them receive the unfading crown of glory …
Post Communion Prayer:
God of mercy and compassion,
we have shared the joy of salvation
that Matthew knew when Jesus called him.
Renew our calling to proclaim the one
who came not to call the righteous but sinners to salvation,
your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing:
God give you grace
to share the inheritance of Saint Matthew and all his saints in glory …
Suggested Hymns:
Proverbs 3: 13-18:
51, Awake, my soul, and with the sun
643, Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
569, Hark, my soul, it is the Lord
34, O worship the King all-glorious above
595, Safe in the shadow of the Lord
596, Seek ye first the kingdom of God
Psalm 119: 65-72:
432, Love is his word, love is his way
20, The King of love my shepherd is
II Corinthians 4: 1-6:
684, All praise to thee, for thou, O King divine
613, Eternal light, shine in my heart
481, God is working his purpose out as year succeeds to year
324, God, whose almighty word
482, Jesus bids us shine with a pure clear light
484, Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
195, Lord, the light of your love is shining
228, Meekness and majesty
486, People of God, arise
341, Spirit divine, attend our prayers
490, The Spirit lives to set us free
491, We have a gospel to proclaim
493, Ye that know the Lord is gracious
Matthew 9: 9-13:
549, Dear Lord and Father of mankind
460, For all your saints in glory (verses 1, 2p, 3)
417, He gave his life in selfless love
94, In the name of Jesus
584, Jesus calls us! O’er the tumult
130, Jesus came, the heavens adoring
605, Will you come and follow me
Also suitable:
459, For all the saints, who from their labours rest
461, For all thy saints, O Lord
471, Rejoice in God’s saints, today and all days!
527, Son of God, etrnal Saviour
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition copyright © 1989, 1995, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org
The hymn suggestions are provided in Sing to the Word (2000), edited by Bishop Edward Darling. The hymn numbers refer to the Church of Ireland’s Church Hymnal (5th edition, Oxford: OUP, 2000)
Material from the Book of Common Prayer is copyright © 2004, Representative Body of the Church of Ireland.
No comments:
Post a Comment