Podcast appearances and mentions of saint matthew

For 14 May 2025, The Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle, based on John 15:9-17

Rita discussed the Gospel of Saint Matthew, emphasizing the courage and dedication of Mary Magdalene and the other Mary who witnessed Jesus' resurrection, and the importance of spiritual growth and the dangers of being enslaved to worldly adornments. She also highlighted the potential for vanity and pride when seeking affirmation from people rather than healing from God, and the spiritual harm of wearing gold and other ornaments in a church setting. Lastly, Rita stressed the importance of humility and virtue in one's spiritual life, emphasizing that excessive attachment to material possessions can hinder one's relationship with God. 00:00 Mary Magdalene's Courageous Witness 08:35 Spiritual Growth vs. Worldly Adornments 14:04 Rita's Discussion on Gold Ornaments 17:31 Humility and Virtue in Spiritual Life

+ Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew 5: 17 – 19 Jesus said to his disciples:"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. The Gospel of the Lord

Rita discussed the Gospel of Saint Matthew, focusing on the birth of Jesus Christ and the significance of Saint Joseph's role as the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the father of Christ. She also emphasized the importance of spiritual preparedness for one's vocation, the significance of the number 42 in Matthew's genealogy, and the supernatural nature of Jesus' birth. Additionally, Rita highlighted the theological conclusions drawn from Jesus' birth, including Mary's unique authority and love for Christ, and the importance of Matthew's genealogy and birth narrative in establishing Jesus' legal rights to the throne of David 00:00 Rita Discusses Gospel of Saint Matthew04:10 Jesus' Legal Rights and Lineage 09:13 Joseph's Legal Rights and Marriage 12:58 Saint Joseph's Role and Significance19:00 Mary's High Dignity and Spiritual Preparedness24:34 Rita's Discussion on Biblical Numbers 27:58 Jesus' Birth and Theological Significance31:50 Jesus' Birth and Kingship Explained

+ Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew 23: 1 – 12Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens (hard to carry) and lay them on people's shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.' As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.' You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called 'Master'; you have but one master, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."The Gospel of The Lord

Rita discussed the Gospel of Saint Matthew, focusing on the Lord's Prayer and its seven distinct petitions, emphasizing the importance of recognizing, honoring, and glorifying God among people. She also discussed the concept of God's rule and the ultimate fulfillment of it in the final and perfect kingdom, the deeper meaning of the Lord's Prayer, and the importance of surrendering one's will to God's. Lastly, she discussed the fourth petition in the Lord's Prayer, "Give us this day our daily bread," and the importance of receiving the Eucharist for spiritual nourishment and communion with Christ.00:00 Gospel of Saint Matthew: Lord's Prayer 10:00 God's Rule and Ultimate Fulfillment15:51 Exploring the Lord's Prayer Petitions 21:11 Surrendering to God's Will 28:11 Daily Bread and Eucharist Discussion

+ Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew 7: 7 – 12 Jesus said to his disciples: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asks for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. "Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.” The Gospel of The Lord

Rita led a discussion on the Gospel of Saint Matthew, focusing on Jesus' teachings about judgment, compassion, and the importance of serving others as a way of serving God. She explored the concept of the Last Judgment, emphasizing Christ's authority and the significance of virtues such as humility, patience, and obedience in determining one's eternal fate. The discussion concluded with reflections on the kingdom of heaven, the power of choice in human actions, and the importance of performing good works with love and compassion.00:00 Matthew 25: Jesus' Teachings on Compassion03:28 Serving Others in God's Name05:59 Christ's Authority to Judge Humanity 11:46 Angels and Devil in Judgment16:31 Virtues and Grace in God's Standards20:59 Recognizing God's Love and Presence 26:31 Angels and Accountability in the Kingdom33:50 Choose to Be Like Goats

+ Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew 25: 31 – 46 Jesus said to his disciples: "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.' Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.' Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?' He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.' And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." The Gospel of the Lord.

Rita discussed the Gospel of Saint Matthew, specifically verses 14 through 15, emphasizing the spiritual aspect of fasting and the significance of the Eucharist as a means to receive the heavenly bread. She also discussed how Jesus subtly introduced the idea of his future suffering to his disciples and reflected on how jealousy and envy often drive people to question and oppose others. Lastly, she emphasized the importance of spiritual growth through fasting, the unique reason for fasting as a spiritual practice, and offered her assistance for any questions. 00:00 Jesus and the Disciples of John06:03 Fasting and the Spiritual Nourishment 08:18 Jesus's View on Fasting and Humility 13:37 Subtle Introduction of Suffering 19:16 Addressing Jealousy and Sincere Intentions 22:23 Jesus' Preaching and Miraculous Joy26:13 Unique Fasting Practices in Spiritual Growth29:46 Fasting and Spiritual Growth in Lent

From the responsorial psalm: “The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; The ordinances of the LORD are true, all of them just. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life." A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 2:13-17) Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus heard this and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” Jesus calls Levi (Matthew) to follow him. Matthew invites Jesus to dine at his house along with many tax collectors and sinners. When the Scribes and Pharisees see them dining together, they are critical of Jesus, questioning why he would eat with sinners. After Jesus hears their remarks, his response reveals the purpose of his mission and how he came to choose Matthew as one of the apostles: the sick need the Divine Physician, and Jesus calls sinners to him. Saint Paul recognizes the dependence we have on the grace and mercy Jesus offers when he says, "No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account." Father in heaven, help me now and throughout the day receive your grace through Jesus Christ your Son. Let the words of Saint Paul remind me what it means to respond as Saint Matthew did on hearing the words "Follow me." It means that in approaching the throne of grace, I have the sympathy and compassion of Jesus. Give me the grace to do as Paul urges in saying, "So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help." Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of the Divine Physician, show me the way to your Son. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

+ Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew 4: 12-17. 23-25When he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen." From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people. His fame spread to all of Syria, and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases and racked with pain, those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics, and he cured them. And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan followed him.The Gospel of the Lord

+ Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew 2:1-12 When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.'" Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star's appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage." After their audience with the king, they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.The Gospel of the Lord

+ Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew 10: 17 – 22Jesus said to His disciples: Beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.The Gospel of the Lord

+ Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew 1: 1 – 17The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse, Jesse the father of David the king.David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph. Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah. Uzziah became the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian exile.After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Christ, fourteen generations.The Gospel of the Lord

+ Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew 21, 23-27When Jesus had come into the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them in reply, “I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things. Where was John's baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say ‘Of heavenly origin,' he will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?' But if we say, ‘Of human origin,' we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet.” So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” He himself said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”The Gospel of the Lord

Today is day 350 and we are studying The Tenth Commandment. 350. What does it mean to covet? Coveting is the disordered desire for what belongs to another or what I am unable to have by law, by gift, or by right. ( Joshua 7:1, 10–26) We will conclude today by praying the Collect for Saint Matthew found on page 632 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to ⁠anglicanchurch.net/catechism⁠. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

+ Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew 11: 28 – 30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” The Gospel of the Lord

+ Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew 18: 12 – 14Jesus said to His disciples: "What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost."The Gospel of The Lord

Biblical Literacy in society  the salt of life for a culture every bit as much as for individuals. The church must abandon the false notion that Jesus Christ and the Bible are merely matters of "personal" faith. The widespread knowledge of the Bible in American today would have prevented the invasion of Sodomy and transgenderism. Satan destroyed biblical literarcy and then replaced with with his garbage. Examples from the Gospel of Saint Matthew, and Genesis. -- "As old as Methuselah" -- "Gone the way of all the earth." Fritz Berggren, PhD bloodandfaith.com

By Saint Matthew's Example: How Much Do I Follow Jesus? Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Matthew (September 21st). We all know the Gospel story. Jesus walks over to Matthew's table, saying nothing but Follow Me! One has to understand the profession of Matthew. He was a tax collector. How the tax collector worked in collecting money is described within the Homily. However, the Jewish people hated tax collectors. They cheated the average citizen. How? Listen to the Homily. The Calling of Matthew We then hear that Jesus walks over to the tax collector's table. What are the citizens thinking? Will Jesus pay a tax, like all the merchants? Will He reprimand all of the tax collectors? Simply, Jesus does neither of these things. He merely says Follow Me! Jesus Is Really Asking Matthew, and Us, to Imitate His Heart What Jesus is saying to Matthew is imitate Me in your heart and imitate Me in your actions. Imitate Me in who you are and then He begins to show him what He has to imitate. He goes with him to Matthew's house. When they sit at table, He doesn't sit with the righteous, the self-righteous, Pharisees, and the scribe. He sits with tax collectors. Jesus sits with sinners. He drinks and eats with them. This is what He is asking Matthew to imitate. For the whole world Matthew wrote his gospel in order that we may know that the promises of God have been fulfilled in Jesus and we must Follow Him. Not with our legs, but with our heart in His mercy. Not with sacrifice, but with the heart. Listen more to this Meditation Media. Listen to: By Saint Matthew's Example: How Much Do I Follow Jesus? ------------------------------- Image: The Calling of St. Matthew: Italian Painter: Giovanni Battista Caracciolo: 1625 ------------------------------- Gospel Reading: Matthew: 23: 29-39

As we finish the Gospel of Matthew, Fr. Mike takes us through Christ's passion, explaining the meaning of "Barabbas", the importance of saints, and temptation towards false truth. He also explains the context of the gospels, and how we fit into them in the new and eternal covenant. Today's readings are Matthew 27-28 and Proverbs 19:25-29. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Full Text of ReadingsFeast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist Lectionary: 643The Saint of the day is Saint MatthewSaint Matthew's Story Matthew was a Jew who worked for the occupying Roman forces, collecting taxes from other Jews. The Romans were not scrupulous about what the “tax farmers” got for themselves. Hence the latter, known as “publicans,” were generally hated as traitors by their fellow Jews. The Pharisees lumped them with “sinners” (see Matthew 9:11-13). So it was shocking to them to hear Jesus call such a man to be one of his intimate followers. Matthew got Jesus in further trouble by having a sort of going-away party at his house. The Gospel tells us that many tax collectors and “those known as sinners” came to the dinner. The Pharisees were still more badly shocked. What business did the supposedly great teacher have associating with such immoral people? Jesus' answer was, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' I did not come to call the righteous but sinners” (Matthew 9:12b-13). Jesus is not setting aside ritual and worship; he is saying that loving others is even more important. No other particular incidents about Matthew are found in the New Testament. Reflection From such an unlikely situation, Jesus chose one of the foundations of the Church, a man others, judging from his job, thought was not holy enough for the position. But Matthew was honest enough to admit that he was one of the sinners Jesus came to call. He was open enough to recognize truth when he saw him. “And he got up and followed him” (Matthew 9:9b). Saint Matthew is the Patron Saint of: AccountantsActorsBankersBookkeepersTax collectorsTaxi Drivers Enjoy this friar’s look at a passage from Matthew’s Gospel! Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Gospel Matthew 9:9-13 As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" He heard this and said, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” Reflection I want you to focus on Matthew. He's sitting there doing his work as a hated customs officer, taking money from people that they do not feel they really need to pay. And two words are placed in his imagination from this God, man, Jesus. Follow me. What is it in him that gave him the courage to drop everything and follow him? Other than something deep within each of us that knows the truth, and when the truth calls us, we need to be ready to respond. It's a beautiful image of how grace works within each of us. If we see it for what it is. It will draw us into its world, into its truth, and into its life. Take this time to reflect on these thoughts, and I will close with a prayer. Closing Prayer Father, we go to the inner part of ourselves to reflect. It's essential that we do this work. And the more we go there, the more we're inviting you to show us things about us that we know are there, but we're not fully enough aware of them to respond to what they call us to do. Give us that kind of wisdom. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Enjoy this podcast? Your support on Patreon helps us in so many ways... Patreon: patreon.com/commonprayerdaily_________________________________________________________________OpeningBlessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.Come, let us worship God our King.Come, let us worship Christ, our King and our God.Come, let us worship Christ among us, our King and our God.Holy God,holy and mighty,holy immortal one,have mercy upon us. (3x)Glory be to the + Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,now and always and forever and ever. Amen. From Psalm 51Open my lips, O Lord, *and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.Create in me a clean heart, O God, *and renew a right spirit within me.Cast me not away from your presence *and take not your holy Spirit from me.Give me the joy of your saving help again *and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.Glory be to the + Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,now and always and forever and ever. Amen. A PsalmPsalm 100Jubilate DeoBe joyful in the Lord, all you lands; serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with a song.Know this: The Lord himself is God; he himself has made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise; give thanks to him and call upon his Name.For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his faithfulness endures from age to age. Glory be to the + Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,now and always and forever and ever. Amen. The Readings2 Timothy 3:14–17But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.The Word of the LordThanks Be to God Matthew 9:9–13As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”The Word of the LordThanks Be to GodThe Apostles' CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth;I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. ExamenIn God's presence, think through the day ahead:the work you will do, the people you will encounter, the dangers or uncertainties you face, the possibilities for joy and acts of kindness, any particular resolutions you need to renew, consider what might draw you from the love of God and neighbor, the opportunities you will have to know and serve God and to grow in virtue, remember those closest to you and all for whom you have agreed to pray, ask God's blessings, guidance, and strength in all that lies before you. Gather up these thoughts and reflections in the wordsOur Savior taught us to say: The Lord's PrayerOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. The Collects of the DayWe thank you, heavenly Father, for the witness of your apostle and evangelist Matthew to the Gospel of your Son our Savior; and we pray that, after his example, we may with ready wills and hearts obey the calling of our Lord to follow him; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Closing PrayersA Prayer of St. ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. Glory be to the + Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,now and always and forever and ever. Amen.Lord, have mercy! (3x)God, be gracious to us and bless us and shine Your countenance upon us and have mercy on us.This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!The Father+ is my hope; the Son, my refuge; the Holy Spirit, my protection: All-Holy Trinity, glory to You!Amen!

Today is the feast of Saint Matthew the Apostle. Do you have a favorite apostle of the twelve? Father Kubicki shares what he really likes about Saint Matthew. His story shows that despite all human differences Jesus brings us to together for His glory.

ROSARY - JOYFUL MYSTERIES today.  DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET for Saturday.

Wow! Jesus calls a sinner to be his apostle! Can you believe it?

2024 0921 feast of Saint Matthew

Read Online“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” Matthew 9:11–13Just prior to this passage quoted above, Jesus saw Matthew, a tax collector, sitting at his custom post collecting taxes. Jesus walked up to him and said two simple words: “Follow me.” What did Matthew do? He got up and followed Jesus and invited Him to his home for a meal. When the Pharisees saw this, they acted with judgment and cruelty. They said, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Their reaction and Jesus' subsequent response to them says much about the goodness of our Lord.When Jesus said that He “did not come to call the righteous but sinners,” He was not speaking of the truly righteous. For example, the most righteous person alive at that time, other than Jesus, was His dear mother. And we can be certain that not only did Jesus call her but that she always responded with her whole heart. However, Jesus was speaking of those who were “self-righteous.” A self-righteous person is one who thinks highly of themself, ignoring the truth of God but choosing, instead, to elevate their own image in their own eyes and in the eyes of others. Simply put, to be self-righteous is to believe a lie and, in fact, to believe the worst of lies. It's the worst of lies because this sin has the effect of causing a person to remain obstinate and stuck in their sin. The self-righteous person does not see any need for repentance or change in their life. Therefore, they are not open to the Word of God and to allowing that Word to transform them.Saint Matthew, whom we honor today, was different. He was a sinner indeed. Most likely he was greedy and overly attached to his money. Tax collectors were not highly regarded at that time because they were Jews who worked for the Romans and were, therefore, seen as traitors to their own people. Additionally, they were seen as thieves, because they often extorted more than they should receive so that they could pocket some of the money. For this reason, many Jews also feared the tax collectors because they knew the tax collectors had Rome's support in this illicit activity.What's amazing is that Jesus approached Matthew, the sinner and tax collector, and confidently called him to be a follower. Most likely, Jesus could see into his heart. He knew Matthew was not happy with his life and was searching for more. Therefore, as soon as Jesus called him to follow Him, it is clear that something took place within Matthew's soul. The fact that he got up and followed our Lord shows that the spiritual draw to Jesus was far more powerful than his desire for earthly wealth.This same truth applies to each and every one of us. No matter what we find ourselves drawn to and no matter how we seek satisfaction in life, the supernatural truth is that there is only one thing that will satisfy. We could have all the money in the world, all earthly power and prestige, and still, in the depths of our souls, we will not find peace until we turn to Jesus and follow Him. Some people learn this truth early in life, some later in life, and some never discover it at all.Reflect, today, upon how satisfied you are with your life. Is there something missing? If so, look at your goals and priorities in life. What do you spend most of your time thinking about, talking about and daydreaming about? If it is not our Lord Who occupies your mind, heart and every desire, then you can expect that you will experience discontentment in life. In that case, look to the witness of Saint Matthew. He is a saint today because he responded to Jesus' invitation to abandon his life of sin and greed so as to follow Him in poverty. But in that worldly poverty and abandonment of earthly things, Saint Matthew became abundantly rich and will remain so forever in Heaven.Lord of all satisfaction, You call all Your people to follow You. Please open my mind and heart to that call so that I can not only hear You but also respond with all my heart. Please help me to detach from the things of this world that keep me from You, so that I can follow You wherever You lead. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

For 21 September 2024, Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle, Evangelist, based on Matthew 9:9-13

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17th September, 2024– Experience God's Healing Power as Deacon Don shares incredible stories of healing. Experience a powerful healing service from Saint Matthew's Church in Ballyfermot, where Deacon Don and Jim Brown share stories of divine intervention, explore Jesus' liberating power, and discuss the importance of praising God even in difficult times. Tune in for […] The post E780 | God's Healing Grace Power Hour – The Healing Power of Faith: Stories from Saint Matthew's Church appeared first on Radio Maria Ireland.

Kicking off our St Matthew Three Parter, Father Balkey speaks with Matt Strosser about our patron Saint's call by Christ. You can watch and listen to the other episodes of Holy Hope here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgF74jpj_30HeM2CH0qZ_0rEip6QT8Zyb

Full Text of ReadingsFeast of Saint James, Apostle Lectionary: 605The Saint of the day is Saint JamesSaint James’ Story This James is the brother of John the Evangelist. The two were called by Jesus as they worked with their father in a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had already called another pair of brothers from a similar occupation: Peter and Andrew. “He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him” (Mark 1:19-20). James was one of the favored three who had the privilege of witnessing the Transfiguration, the raising to life of the daughter of Jairus, and the agony in Gethsemani. Two incidents in the Gospels describe the temperament of this man and his brother. Saint Matthew tells that their mother came—Mark says it was the brothers themselves—to ask that they have the seats of honor in the kingdom. “Jesus said in reply, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?' They said to him, ‘We can'” (Matthew 20:22). Jesus then told them they would indeed drink the cup and share his baptism of pain and death, but that sitting at his right hand or left was not his to give—it “is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father” (Matthew 20:23b). It remained to be seen how long it would take to realize the implications of their confident “We can!” The other disciples became indignant at the ambition of James and John. Then Jesus taught them all the lesson of humble service: The purpose of authority is to serve. They are not to impose their will on others, or lord it over them. This is the position of Jesus himself. He was the servant of all; the service imposed on him was the supreme sacrifice of his own life. On another occasion, James and John gave evidence that the nickname Jesus gave them—“sons of thunder”—was an apt one. The Samaritans would not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to hated Jerusalem. “When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?' Jesus turned and rebuked them…” (Luke 9:54-55). James was apparently the first of the apostles to be martyred. “About that time King Herod laid hands upon some members of the church to harm them. He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword, and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews he proceeded to arrest Peter also” (Acts 12:1-3a). This James, sometimes called James the Greater, is not to be confused with James the Lesser or with the author of the Letter of James and the leader of the Jerusalem community. Reflection The way the Gospels treat the apostles is a good reminder of what holiness is all about. There is very little about their virtues as static possessions, entitling them to heavenly reward. Rather, the great emphasis is on the Kingdom, on God's giving them the power to proclaim the Good News. As far as their personal lives are concerned, there is much about Jesus' purifying them of narrowness, pettiness, fickleness. Saint James the Greater is the Patron Saint of: ChileLaborersNicaraguaRheumatism sufferersSpain Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Read OnlineThe Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many people followed him, and he cured them all, but he warned them not to make him known. Matthew 12:14–16This passage goes on to say that Jesus withdrew to a more deserted place to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah the Prophet (Isaiah 42:1–4). That prophecy is the first of what is referred to as “The Songs of the Suffering Servant.” In these songs or poems of Isaiah, the Messiah is presented to us as one who would be sent on a mission from God, would suffer injustice for the sake of others, would be rejected, and ultimately be vindicated and exalted. The mission of the Suffering Servant was to bring justice and salvation to all, including to the Gentiles.At that time, the idea of a messianic king was still prominent in the minds of many. They anticipated the coming of a messiah who would be a political leader and would lead the people of Israel out of oppression, making them a free, prosperous and powerful nation. But Jesus acts in the opposite manner. Instead of raising up an army to combat the evil intentions of the Pharisees and to overthrow the Romans, Jesus withdrew from them and invited people to come to Him for healing and to receive His teachings.Jesus perfectly fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah by becoming the Suffering Servant. And because His messianic role was much different than what many people had anticipated, Saint Matthew points us to the Old Testament prophecy of Isaiah as a way of clearly showing that Jesus truly was the promised Messiah. He was just not the form of messiah that many expected. He was One Who was humble and gentle of heart. He was One Who would redeem people by the Blood of His Cross. And He was One Who would extend salvation to all people, not only the people of Israel.One lesson this teaches us is that even today we can have false expectations of God. It is easy for us to set forth our own idea of what God should do and what true justice demands. But we also read in Isaiah, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Is. 55:8–9).Just as it must have been difficult for the people of Israel to come to accept the promised Messiah as a servant Who suffers and Who redeems all people through that suffering, so it is often difficult for us to accept our Lord as He is. It is difficult to shed our own ideas of what we want God to do and this is especially difficult when He calls us to share in His own suffering and servanthood. To serve, suffer, sacrifice our lives, and the like can be difficult to accept. But this is the way of our Lord—it is the way of the Suffering Servant of God.Reflect, today, upon your own expectations of God. Do you have a long list of things that you think God should do? Do you pray for that list of your ideas, thinking that if you only ask enough, God will grant your requests? If your requests flow from His perfect will, then praying for them in faith will bring them about. But if they flow more from you and your own ideas of what God should do, then all the prayers in the world will not bring them to be. If this is your struggle, then try to start anew by turning your eyes to the Servant Who Suffers for the salvation of all. Reflect upon the fact that God's thoughts and ways are most often very far above your own thoughts and ways. Try to humble yourself before the Suffering Servant and abandon all ideas that do not flow from His Heart.My Suffering Servant, I thank You for Your suffering and death and for the redemption that flows from Your sacrifice of love. Help me to shed all false expectations that I have of You, dear Lord, so that I will be guided by You and Your mission of salvation alone. Jesus, I trust in You.  Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay

(2:24) Bible Study: Hos 11:1-4, 8e-9 How did Saint Matthew use this verse? Father explains Mt 10:7-15 Father talks about what it means to proclaim with authority. (25:14) Break 1 (26:00) Letters: How do people with mental illnesses get involved with the parish life, why God would tell Hose to marry a harlot and how is the devil defeated? Father Simon answers these and more! (39:14) Break 2 (40:12) Word of the Day: Keep (42:22) Phones: Agnes - Diff b/w conservative and the Liberal Judaism groups?   Greg - I'm a Eucharistic Minister, and after Sunday mass, the Sacristan, approached me if I could give her communion.   Gina - Predestination, is that true sometimes?

Corbin and Matt talk about THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SAINT MATTHEW, Marxist Neorealist Pier Paolo Pasolini's pretty straight on take on the book of Matthew. Topics: Where's Mary Magdeline?, a political Jesus, yet another disappointing crucifixion, and the temptation to find some sense in Judas. Check out a good essay on the move here. Corbin's reccomendation can be seen on Mubi, if you're that kind of sicko. He also reccomends a movie that is presently in theaters. Acquire Matt's reccomendation here.  Next week: THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST! Watch it here! 

Michelangelo Merisi, born in 1571 amidst the darkness of the plague, would come to be known not by his christened name but by the name of his birthplace – Caravaggio. Orphaned young, the specter of loss would forever paint itself onto the canvas of his life. Yet, from this darkness, a genius of light and shadow would emerge, revolutionizing the art world with his raw and dramatic style. While controversial in some circles, this mix of gritty realism and the divine was exactly what the Catholic church needed at the time. The Protestant Reformation was a backlash against what they considered to be a corrupt and greedy church. The Pope and others within the church commissioned art as a form of damage control. In an era of low literacy rates, images of artworks were powerful tools to spread ideas. Caravaggio's paintings depicted a faith that was humble as he painted from his real-life observations of people on the streets. Though the subjects of the art were saints, the models were lowly people off the streets and Caravaggio painted every detail down to the stains in their clothing or dirt under their fingernails. The message was that the church was a place for the ordinary people. Using real people as models and placing them in settings familiar to the masses made the stories more immediately accessible and relatable. The Calling of Saint Matthew is one of 250 artworks required for AP Art History. While I have not yet covered all of those artists/works you can find many on my Spotify playlist, AP Art History Cram Session Check out my other podcasts  Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today is day 350 and we are studying The Tenth Commandment. 350. What does it mean to covet? Coveting is the disordered desire for what belongs to another or what I am unable to have by law, by gift, or by right. ( Joshua 7:1, 10–26) We will conclude today by praying the Collect for Saint Matthew found on page 632 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Furbie Orchestra - "Takes Over" [0:00:00] Todd Rundgren - "Intro/Breathless" - Something/Anything? [Todd demonstrates all the terrible things that can go wrong when making a record] [0:02:04] Johnny Burnette And The Rock 'N Roll Trio - "Train Kept A Rollin'" - Tear It Up 17 Wild Rockabilly Classics [Did Paul Burlison really take one of the tubes out of his amp in order to get this beautifully broken and dirty sound??] [0:05:28] The Creative Arts Club of The Saint Matthew's Lutheran Church of Jersey City - "Scratching Rapping Rappy Rap" - Live on WFMU! Studio C! [0:12:20] Christian Marclay - "Guitar Drag (excerpt)" - Guitar Drag [0:15:52] Christian Marclay - "Jimi Hendrix" - More Encores (Christian Marclay Plays WIth The Records Of…) [0:17:58] The Doors as unintended - "Hello, Oswald About You" [0:22:04] Homer Dudley (Bell Labs) - "The Voder (1939)" [before it became the vocoder and wrecked a nice beach] [0:23:20] John Larry Kelly Jr and Louis Gerstman - "IBM 704 Sings Diasy Bell, 1961" [0:30:06] Kraftwerk - "Tanzmusik (remixed)" [0:32:34] 2 AI Chatbots - "Can't get it right" [0:34:18] Another AI Frank Sinatra - "Creep (Radiohead Cover)" [0:36:55] Happy Valley Band - "In The Air Tonight" - Organum Perceptus [humans reinterpret algorithms attempting to interpret humans] [0:45:34] Unk. - "The Talking Car (1953)" [0:42:35] Unk. - "Hijinx" - Great Phone Calls! (V/a) [0:45:05] AI Jukebox Frank Sinatra - "Hot Tub Christmas" [0:49:01] Ray Bradbury - "Dial Double Zero" [0:52:09] Dave - "Takes out HAL" [0:53:59] Ace Cannon - "Blues Stay Away From Me, losing steam" [0:55:57] https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/134363

As we finish the Gospel of Matthew, Fr. Mike takes us through Christ's passion, explaining the meaning of "Barabbas", the importance of saints, and temptation towards false truth. He also explains the context of the gospels, and how we fit into them in the new and eternal covenant. Today's readings are Matthew 27-28 and Proverbs 19:25-29. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Light of life

Matthew 9:10. | Saint Matthew, Evangelist September 2023 meditations are written by Jodi Belcher and recorded by Nia McKenney.   Forward Day by Day is published and produced by Forward Movement. Explore our other podcasts, books, and blogs at forwardmovement.org

“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” Matthew 9:11–13Just prior to this passage quoted above, Jesus saw Matthew, a tax collector, sitting at his custom post collecting taxes. Jesus walked up to him and said two simple words: “Follow me.” What did Matthew do? He got up and followed Jesus and invited Him to his home for a meal. When the Pharisees saw this, they acted with judgment and cruelty. They said, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Their reaction and Jesus' subsequent response to them says much about the goodness of our Lord.When Jesus said that He “did not come to call the righteous but sinners,” He was not speaking of the truly righteous. For example, the most righteous person alive at that time, other than Jesus, was His dear mother. And we can be certain that not only did Jesus call her but that she always responded with her whole heart. However, Jesus was speaking of those who were “self-righteous.” A self-righteous person is one who thinks highly of themself, ignoring the truth of God but choosing, instead, to elevate their own image in their own eyes and in the eyes of others. Simply put, to be self-righteous is to believe a lie and, in fact, to believe the worst of lies. It's the worst of lies because this sin has the effect of causing a person to remain obstinate and stuck in their sin. The self-righteous person does not see any need for repentance or change in their life. Therefore, they are not open to the Word of God and to allowing that Word to transform them.Saint Matthew, whom we honor today, was different. He was a sinner indeed. Most likely he was greedy and overly attached to his money. Tax collectors were not highly regarded at that time because they were Jews who worked for the Romans and were, therefore, seen as traitors to their own people. Additionally, they were seen as thieves, because they often extorted more than they should receive so that they could pocket some of the money. For this reason, many Jews also feared the tax collectors because they knew the tax collectors had Rome's support in this illicit activity.What's amazing is that Jesus approached Matthew, the sinner and tax collector, and confidently called him to be a follower. Most likely, Jesus could see into his heart. He knew Matthew was not happy with his life and was searching for more. Therefore, as soon as Jesus called him to follow Him, it is clear that something took place within Matthew's soul. The fact that he got up and followed our Lord shows that the spiritual draw to Jesus was far more powerful than his desire for earthly wealth.This same truth applies to each and every one of us. No matter what we find ourselves drawn to and no matter how we seek satisfaction in life, the supernatural truth is that there is only one thing that will satisfy. We could have all the money in the world, all earthly power and prestige, and still, in the depths of our souls, we will not find peace until we turn to Jesus and follow Him. Some people learn this truth early in life, some later in life, and some never discover it at all.Reflect, today, upon how satisfied you are with your life. Is there something missing? If so, look at your goals and priorities in life. What do you spend most of your time thinking about, talking about and daydreaming about? If it is not our Lord Who occupies your mind, heart and every desire, then you can expect that you will experience discontentment in life. In that case, look to the witness of Saint Matthew. He is a saint today because he responded to Jesus' invitation to abandon his life of sin and greed so as to follow Him in poverty. But in that worldly poverty and abandonment of earthly things, Saint Matthew became abundantly rich and will remain so forever in Heaven.Lord of all satisfaction, You call all Your people to follow You. Please open my mind and heart to that call so that I can not only hear You but also respond with all my heart. Please help me to detach from the things of this world that keep me from You, so that I can follow You wherever You lead. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2023 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

As we finish the Gospel of Matthew, Fr. Mike takes us through Christ's passion, explaining the meaning of "Barabbas", the importance of saints, and temptation towards false truth. He also explains the context of the gospels, and how we fit into them in the new and eternal covenant. Today's readings are Matthew 27-28 and Proverbs 19:25-29. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.