Today the traditional Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Holy, Saint Matthew, Apostle, Evangelist. Saint Matthew, also called Levi, a son of Alpheus, and brother of the holy apostle James the Less, was a receiver in the Roman custom house on Lake Tiberias. Such officers were hated by the Jews for their injustice, and were called publicans, or public sinners. While he was sitting at the receipt of custom he was called by Christ to be one of His disciples, and immediately leaving his lucrative office and all that he had, followed Jesus. On account of his distinguished zeal he was afterwards received into the number of the apostles. After the descent of the Holy Ghost he remained in Judea, preached the Gospel, wrote the passion of Our Lord as contained in his Holy gospel, and lived strictly in the fear of God. At a later time he traveled through Persia, Ethiopia, and other countries. At last he was killed at the altar, by command of King Hirtacus, for opposing his marriage with the Princess Iphigenia, who, by Saint Matthew's direction, had vowed to God perpetual virginity. His holy remains were brought to Salermo in the tenth century. Thus may great sinners become great saints by following faithfully, like Saint Matthew, the voice of God.
Lesson from Holy Gospel: Mathew 9, 9-13. At that time Jesus saw a man sitting in the custom house, named Matthew: and He saith to him: Follow Me. And he rose up and followed Him. And it came to pass as He was sitting at meat in the house, behold many publicans and sinners came, and sat down with Jesus and His disciples. And the Pharisees seeing it, said to His disciples: Why doth your master eat with publicans and sinners? But Jesus hearing it, said: They that are in health need not a physician, but they that are ill. Go then and learn what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice. For I am not come to call the just, but to call sinners.
Explanation: This gospel teaches us: 1. That when God calls we should obey at once, lest, by not giving heed to His voice, He should cease to call us, or withdraw from us His grace. 2. To forsake the occasions of sin; as St. Matthew not only left the place where he sinned, but abandoned entirely the very house and office which had led him into sin. 3. That we should not only cease to sin, but, like St. Matthew , should follow Christ in poverty, humility, meekness, patience, if we would enter the kingdom of God.