Today’s Gospel proclamation focuses on Matthew who was also called Levi. He became one of the apostles, when he was sitting by the customs house in Capernaum and the Lord said “come follow me.” Scholars be- lieve Matthew was employed as a tax collector in the service of Herod An- tipas, tetrarch of Galilee.

Because Levi’s occupation was one that earned distrust and contempt everywhere, the Jewish religious leaders criticised Jesus on seeing him eat with tax collectors and sinners. The Lord said, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners”. Other than naming St.Matthew in the list of Apostles, the New Testament offers scant and uncertain information about him. St.Matthew’s Gospel was written for a Jewish-Chris- tian church in a strongly Jewish environment. Tradition notes his ministry in Judaea, after which he supposedly missioned to the East, suggesting Ethiopia and Persia. It is said that he was martyred for the sake of Christ.

Prayer: Abba Father, thank you for your divine mercy which liberates us from our sin and selfishness. Amen.