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September 21st: Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist
Gospel text
Mt 9:9-13
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.
Gospel's Commentary
Today we celebrate the holiness of a former "tax collector". Jesus welcomes into the group of His close friends a man who, according to the notion of that time in Israel, was considered a public sinner for collecting taxes in the service of the Roman Empire. Matthew’s decision therefore has a lot of value: he gave up a “comfortable" and "safe" position to become a true public servant as an apostle of God.
- "I desire mercy, not sacrifice": Jesus does not exclude anyone from His friendship!