SAINT MATTHEW

 

SAINT MATTHEW

 

Today=September 21^st

Is the feast day

Of the great Saint Matthew

Also called Levi

 

He was an apostle

And evangelist=and followed Jesus

When Jesus said=”FOLLOW ME”

 

“As he walked along

He saw Levi=son of Alphaeus

Sitting at the tax collector’s booth

 

‘FOLLOW ME’=Jesus said to him

And Levi got up

And followed him”                                                                                                               Mark 2:14

 

NOT too much of Matthew’s

Later work=is known=but his GOSPEL

Was the FAVORITE GOSPEL

In the early CHURCH

The word “KINGDOM”

Is used fifty-one times

 

His gospel TEACHES

Jesus is the MESSIAH

The LORD=of the world

 

And that the DESTINY of Israel

Is being fulfilled

By the SMALL remnant

Of Jews=who FORMED

The nucleus of the CHRISTIAN CHURCH

 

ONLY in this gospel

Is it=WHERE Jesus gave

To Peter=the keys of the KINGDOM

And calls him the ROCK

The foundation of the EARLY CHURCH

 

“And I tell you

That you are Peter=and on this ROCK

I will build my CHURCH

 

And the gates of Hades

Will NOT overcome it

 

Whatever you bound=on earth

Will be bound in heaven

And whatever you loose

On earth=will be loosed in heaven”                                                                                     Matthew 16:18-19

 

ONLY Matthew

Tells of Peter walking=ON THE WATER                                                                                    Matthew 14:28-31

And of Peter paying the temple tax

For both of them                                                                                                                     Matthew 17:24-27

 

Matthew’s gospel=BRINGS OUT

The dignity of Christ

And of ALL the apostles

 

And his gospel ends with

The proclamation

“AND SURELY I am with you

ALWAYS==to the very end

Of the age”                                                                                                                               Matthew 28:20

 

Dear Lord=today we HONOR

The great apostle=Saint MATTHEW

 

Please help us=FOLLOW YOU

Just as he did=and help bring

THE KINGDOM OF GOD=back to the forefront

Of the world

In this=the 21^st century

 

In the name of Jesus=and the APOSTLES=and our HOLY FATHER GOD!

 

Robert P. Wallman

9-21-2022