ST. MATTHEW
A Note About Our Statues: The statues we inherited from St. Benedict Church do not include one clearly named St. Matthew, but do offer one labeled St. Mathias. Since St. Matthew is one of the original 12, it seems odd that there would be no statue honoring him. It is possible that the St. Mathias statue represents the original Apostle we call Matthew. Both are associated with the symbol of an axe. Pilgrims may decide for themselves if this statue represents St. Matthew or St. Mathias… or they may simply savor the mystery.
ST. MATTHEW
FEAST September 21
LIFE Also called Levi or the Apostle of Ethiopia. A Roman tax collector working for the occupying force, was seen as an enemy of his own people, yet Jesus
called him to Apostleship. Wrote a Gospel to convince Jewish hearers that their long-awaited Messiah had come. Martyred in the first century near Hierapolis or Ethiopia.
SYMBOLS St. Matthew was burned, stoned, or beheaded and holds an axe.
PATRONAGE accountants, bankers, bookkeepers, customs officers, guards, finances
SCRIPTURE TO PONDER They said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard this, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”
Mark 2:16b-17 NRSV
Embraced
St. Matthew had a universally unsavory reputation. Judgment followed him, yet Jesus included him.
Do I need courage to withstand the scrutiny of others? Do I want my career to glorify God more clearly?