Feast: Matthew, An Apostle and an Evangelist
Ephesians 4:1-7,11-13,Matthew 9:9-13
In life, boundaries exist to ensure everything thrives in its proper place. Just as land, sea, and sky each host creatures best suited for those environments, our unique gifts help us flourish within our communities. Taking a land creature to the sea would frustrate or suffocate it, and long-term misplacement could disrupt the ecosystem. Despite their different habitats, these creatures depend on each other. Birds, though living in the sky, come to the land to gather materials for their nests. Similarly, humans live on land, beautify and cultivate it, but sometimes go to rivers for resources.
This concept also applies to the church. We all have different roles, given by God, and each contributes to his glory and our salvation. St. Paul, writing from the prison to the church at Ephesus, emphasized that each member is called by God to perform unique works within one body of Christ. He urged them to serve with humility, patience, love, and tolerance for one another. As he wrote, “there is one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all… But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift” (Ephesians 4:4-7, 11-13).
Today, as we celebrate St. Matthew, an apostle and evangelist, we remember that he likely worked alongside others with different gifts, such as pastors, prophets, and teachers. Just as the apostles chose deacons in Acts 6:1-6 to manage some tasks so that they can focus on the word and prayer, so too do we rely on each other’s gifts today.
May we use our talents to serve God, respect others’ gifts, and support one another in our families, churches, and communities.
