Feast Day of Saint Matthew

Reflection Date: September 21, 2026 | Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist
Daily Readings: Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13; Matthew 9:9-13

Children of God:
September 21 is the feast day of Saint Matthew.

Saint Matthew began his life as a tax collector, a profession that made him wealthy but also made him unpopular among many of his fellow Jews.

He worked at the customs post when Jesus passed by and simply said to him, “Follow me,” and Matthew got up and followed him.

That simple decision changed the direction of his life.

Matthew eventually became one of the Twelve Apostles and became a witness to the ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

After the Resurrection, Christian tradition remembered him as a missionary who proclaimed the Gospel beyond the land where he first met Jesus.

The ancient traditions about where Matthew preached differ, with accounts connecting him to places including regions around the East and Ethiopia.

Many accounts state he was killed with a sword, spear, or halberd while preaching in Ethiopia or Parthia.

Another account claims a king pinned him to the floor and set him on fire, where he ultimately perished inside a burning building.

The Church nevertheless consistently remembered Matthew as an apostle and martyr, and Pope John Paul II described him as one who proclaimed the Gospel with courage and died the death of a martyr.

What we can say with confidence is that the Church remembered him as someone who remained faithful to Christ even to the point of death, making his life a powerful example of what can happen when a person takes Jesus seriously.

In the gospel story of Matthew, Jesus saw a man sitting at the customs post and called him to follow.

Matthew did not ask for a detailed explanation, negotiate his future, or demand guarantees before responding.

He simply got up and followed Jesus.

What makes the story even more striking was that Jesus later sat at table with tax collectors and sinners, something that immediately attracted criticism.

So, what are our inspirations for today?

First, one decision can change the direction of your whole life.

Matthew was sitting at the customs post when Jesus called him.

He was not praying in a temple, standing on a mountain, or doing something obviously heroic.

He was simply doing his job when an unexpected invitation came.

Jesus entered an ordinary moment and turned it into a decisive moment.

Sometimes we imagine that life changes only through dramatic events.

We wait for the perfect opportunity, the perfect sign, or the perfect moment before making an important decision.

But Matthew’s story shows that transformation can begin with one simple response.

He heard the invitation, got up, and followed.

One decision can change the direction of your whole life.

Second, following Jesus means allowing Him to change not only our direction but also our relationships.

After Matthew followed Jesus, he welcomed Him into his home and gathered with other tax collectors and sinners.

The people around Jesus questioned this choice because they could not understand why someone claiming to be holy would spend time with people carrying questionable reputations.

Jesus responded with a very human image: a physician does not go looking for people who are already healthy.

A physician goes where people are wounded and in need of healing.

“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do” (Matthew 9:12).

Matthew himself became a sign of that mission.

The man whom others might have dismissed became an apostle.

The person who once collected taxes became a person who helped proclaim the Gospel.

His past did not disappear, but his past no longer defined the limits of what his life could become.

Following Jesus means allowing Him to change not only our direction but also our relationships.

As we reflect, we ask ourselves: What decision is Jesus inviting me to make today that can change the direction of my life?

Who are the people I find difficult to accept, understand, or forgive, and how is Jesus inviting me to see them differently? If Jesus sees possibilities in people whom others reject, how can I become more generous in giving people another chance?

Children of God:
Matthew’s story begins with a man sitting at a customs post and ends with a disciple remembered by the Church across generations.

His life reminds us that an invitation can arrive in the middle of an ordinary day.

It also reminds us that following Jesus can take us into places and relationships we never expected.

Matthew left behind a familiar way of living and discovered a larger purpose.

His story therefore asks us not only whether we believe in Jesus, but whether we are willing to follow Him when He calls.