麻豆约拍

Today is the feast of Saint Matthew, understood to the writer of the gospel of Matthew.

Tradition says that he was a tax collector, but we鈥檙e not very sure.

What we are sure of, however, is that his gospel has some interesting characteristics. In Matthew鈥檚 Gospel, we are introduced to the great lineage of Jesus as a member of the royal house of David. Matthew鈥檚 gospel outlines 42 men and five women including Mary linking Jesus of Nazareth with the beloved King.

Matthew鈥檚 text calls particular attention to these five women.

Matthew is also very interested in teaching. In his gospel he mostly squeezes the human interactions of Jesus into the spaces between five lengthy sermons, sermons that cover topics such as mercy, community, discipline, forgiveness.

Matthew seems to come on his own journey of forgiveness though. When Matthew introduces the disciples, he mentions one of the disciples, Judas, but he refers to him as 鈥渢he one who betrayed him鈥�. Not an auspicious introduction.

He continues, like the other gospel writers to speak of Judas as the betrayer, until the end.

After Jesus has been arrested, but before he was executed, Judas seems to realise that his plans were foiled. Perhaps Judas just wanted to start a revolution, not get his friend murdered.

Matthew then tells us that Judas 鈥渞epents鈥�, gives the blood money back, but is destroyed by his grief.

God of Matthew
God of Judas
Matthew didn鈥檛 know what to make of Judas
and introduces him poorly
but finishes the story of him
with a certain dignity.
May we all find ways
to charitably change our stories
we tell about others
because this
is a virtue
worthy of life.
Amen.

听