September 21

St. Matthew, Apostle

Preparation. - “You are My friends,” says the Saviour, “if you do the things I command you” (John 15. 14). St. Matthew proved his fidelity to Jesus, first, by obeying Him with docility, and secondly, by his love of virginity. Let us examine in a particular manner if we promptly submit, like him, to the orders of the divine Master, if we ardently follow in all things all the well-known wishes of those who direct us in His name. “You are My friends, if you do the things that I command you.”

I. St. Matthew’s Obedience

Let us admire this publican, this tax-gatherer for the Romans, a profession most hateful to the Jews. He was sitting in his office when Jesus passed by. Looking at him with an eye of mercy, our Saviour said to him: “Follow Me.” At once, without delay, Matthew arose and followed Him. How prompt was his obedience! He deliberates not, asks not for a delay, requires no miracles. Neither his business and wealth, nor his relatives can prevent his immediate obedience.

He was, without doubt, deeply moved by an interior light, a secret grace. But how often are not we also enlightened and urged to yield to the inspirations of God! At one time, He reproaches us with some fault, with a want of discretion, of reserve, patience, meekness or affability; at another, He demands of us the sacrifice of some defect, of some idle words, of some conversation hurtful to our neighbor and to ourselves; and we refuse to heed His voice. St. Matthew had to break off with self-love to defy human respect and to give up all hopes of wealth. We have not such great obstacles to overcome, and yet how far are we from being as perfectly docile as he!

After the descent of the Holy Ghost, our saint, ever ready to yield to divine guidance, left Judea, directed by the Holy Ghost, passed through Egypt into Ethiopia, where he preached the faith, surmounting all hardships in order to accomplish his divine mission. In like manner nothing in the world should deter us from fulfilling our duty, from doing the will of God.

O my sovereign Lord, how often I allow myself to be deterred by feelings of tediousness, disgust and repugnance from executing Thy designs, obeying my superiors, following Thy lights and attractions, preferring thereby my despicable will to Thy adorable precepts! Through the merits of Jesus, Mary and St. Matthew, enable me to overcome my resistance, to stifle my complaints and murmurs, and lovingly to embrace the sacrifices and duties imposed by obedience. I will in future frequently recall the example of Jesus submitting to His executioners to be crucified. This motive will urge me to seek to unite my soul with Thee in the complete renunciation of my self-will. “You are my friends, if you do the things I command you.”

II. St. Matthew’s Love Of Virginity

Clement of Alexandria says of this apostle that he was very much addicted to contemplation, led an austere life, and lived only on herbs, roots and wild fruits. By these efficacious means he preserved his chastity intact. But, not content with practicing it himself, he strongly recommended it to others. Having converted the royal family of Ethiopia, he persuaded one of the princesses, named Iphigenia, to embrace virginity, and he placed her at the head of a community of virgins. To strengthen the faithful in the faith and in the purity of morals, he underwent many sufferings and hardships, ordained priests, instituted bishops, overthrew idols and turned temples into churches.

His love of chastity was strikingly manifested, when the new king wished to marry Iphigenia. He firmly opposed his pretensions, and spoke clearly and forcibly to the monarch on the excellence of virginity, on the precious graces of which it is the source, and the eternal rewards that will crown it in the next life. His discourse cost him his life, for he was soon after massacred whilst offering the holy sacrifice. O truly apostolic zeal, which made this fervent disciple of Jesus “the victim of virginity,” as St. Hippolytus calls him.

Let us learn from this to prefer enduring every torment than to have the misfortune of forfeiting the angelic virtue, a virtue so delicate and so often endangered. Let us protect it in us with the hedge of mortification of the body and the senses, especially those of sight and feeling. Let us be firmly determined to do violence to ourselves, to remain unmoved in temptation, relying on prayer, and on the divine assistance, which is never wanting to those who pray. Where is he who after persevering in prayer and resisting. failed to gain the victory? And the victory, the greater the efforts it has cost, the more worthy will it be of reward in the sight of God.

O glorious St. Matthew, inflamed with zeal, especially for chastity, deign to obtain for me the love of this virtue. Inspire me with the resolution, first, to keep my body and my soul pure by mortifying my senses; and secondly, to strengthen my mind and heart beforehand against temptations, by recalling the truths of faith, and having frequent recourse to Jesus and Mary.