November 16 –  Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew (†~68) 

As our time of fasting and preparation has begun, it is good to ponder how this forty days symbolizes the preparation of those of the Old Covenant for the coming of the Messiah. St. Matthew, whom we commemorate today, tells us that they waited forty-two generations from Abraham to the birth of Christ. We see generation upon generation of unfaithfulness, wandering, and falling away, and we see God’s steadfast love and care for His people. Let us not forget that as we embark, we do so with the blessing we have been given as His Chosen People–those who know the One waited for has come:

Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it (Matthew 13:16-17). 

Matthew, also called Levi, was one of the Twelve Apostles and brother of the Apostle James, son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14). He lived in the city of Capernaum, a small fishing village on the Sea of Galilee, around where Apostles Peter, Andrew, James, and John lived. Matthew was a publican (or tax-collector) for Rome during a time when the Jews were under the rule of the Roman Empire, and his city was in the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas. Matthew collected taxes from his fellow Hebrews, and his occupation was known for often charging more than required, while keeping the difference, and as such, they were despised by their own people and considered outcasts. St. Nikolaj Velimirovic in The Prologue of Ohrid, tells us more of the life of St. Matthew:

After receiving the Holy Spirit, Matthew preached the Gospel to the Parthians, Medes and Ethiopians. In Ethiopia he appointed his follower Plato as bishop, and withdrew to prayerful solitude on a mountain, where the Lord appeared to him. Matthew baptized the wife and the son of the prince of Ethiopia, at which the prince became greatly enraged and dispatched a guard to bring Matthew to him for trial. The soldiers returned to the prince saying that they had heard Matthew's voice, but could not see him with their eyes. The prince then sent a second guard. When this guard approached the apostle, he shone with a heavenly light so powerful that the soldiers could not look at him; filled with fear, they threw down their weapons and returned. The prince then went himself. Matthew radiated such light that the prince was instantly blinded. However, the holy apostle had a compassionate heart; he prayed to God, and the prince was given back his sight. Unfortunately, he saw only with physical eyes and not spiritual eyes. He arrested Matthew and subjected him to cruel tortures. 

Twice, a large fire was lighted on his chest, but the power of God preserved him alive and unharmed. Then the apostle prayed to God and gave up his spirit. The prince commanded that the martyr's body be placed in a lead coffin and thrown into the sea. The saint appeared to Bishop Plato and told him where the coffin bearing his body could be found. The bishop retrieved the coffin with Matthew's body from the sea. Witnessing this new miracle, the prince was baptized and received the name Matthew. After that, the prince left all the vanity of the world and became a presbyter and served the Church in a God-pleasing way. When Plato died, the Apostle Matthew appeared to the presbyter Matthew and counseled him to accept the episcopacy. He accepted the bishopric and, for many years, was a good shepherd until the Lord called him to His Immortal Kingdom. 

St. Matthew the Apostle wrote his Gospel in the Aramaic language. It was soon after translated into Greek and the Greek text has come down to us, while the Aramaic text has been lost. It is said of this evangelist that he never ate meat, but only vegetables and fruit.

It should bring us great joy to read the life of St. Matthew, and remember back to where he began. Sitting there, a tax collector, caught up in his world of wealth, comfort, and self-seeking at the expense of others. And yet, one day Matthew hears the voice of Jesus say: “Come, follow Me” (Matthew 9:9). He heeds that call and then invites the Lord home for a feast. Upon seeing this, the Scribes and the Pharisees criticized Jesus for eating with such tax collectors and sinners, to which Jesus responds: 

Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance (Matthew 9:12-13).

During this Advent Fast we are faced with the profound reality that the One we are preparing for, is also the One we are healed by. We must prepare ourselves for His coming, and yet it is only through Him that can we be readied. Like St. Philip and St. Matthew, we are not asked to follow Christ because we are strong and righteous, but because we are sick and desire healing. And He is the Physician. Jesus’ exhortation hearkens back to Hosea, reminding both us and the Pharisees that following the law to the letter means nothing if we have no loving-kindness. In the words of St. John Chrysostom:

In the person of God the prophets shout, “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” And all the apostles act and speak in harmony with these prophetic words. Therefore let us not neglect the matter. By mercy we greatly benefit ourselves, not the poor only. We receive much more than we provide.

The things we are called to during this season – fasting, prayer, and alms-giving – are sacrifices. Yet when they are done in humility and repentance, borne out of love for God and for others, they become our joy, our freedom, and our healing. 

Optional Resources:

Apostle Matthew coloring page from Sparks 4 Orthdodox Kids

Sources:

Velimirovic, Nikolaj. The Prologue of Ohrid. Lives of Saints, Hymns, Reflections and Homilies for Every Day of the Year. July to December. United States, Sebastian Press, Western American Diocese, 2008.