Tomorrow, 21 September, the Church celebrates the Feast of St Matthew – one of the Apostles and also an Evangelist. At the time when he was called to be a disciple he was a tax collector and his profession made him unpopular among his fellow Jews. Soon after he was called, he made a feast for Jesus, which gave rise to some scandal among the Scribes and Pharisees, who looked down upon all tax gatherers and considered that Jesus lowered himself by going to eat at the house of one of them. Except for brief mentions of him in the New Testament, little is known of the history of St. Matthew. It is generally believed he was martyred when he went on a missionary expedition to Ethiopia.
Prayer of St Matthew
Almighty God, who through your Son Jesus Christ called Matthew from the selfish pursuit of gain to become an apostle and evangelist: free us from all greed and love of riches so that we may follow the steps of our Lord Jesus Christ in the way of self-giving love; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Prayer of St Matthew
Almighty God, who through your Son Jesus Christ called Matthew from the selfish pursuit of gain to become an apostle and evangelist: free us from all greed and love of riches so that we may follow the steps of our Lord Jesus Christ in the way of self-giving love; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen