As we celebrate our Feast Day,

we remember the Calling of our Patron Saint, Matthew.

Matthew as a Tax Collector, had more than a lucrative living,

however, there was something about the Call of Jesus,

That when the Master said, "Follow me,"

that Matthew got up and went,

he left behind his former life without delay and without excuses.

What a difference from when Jesus called,

the Rich Young Ruler,

who had so many possessions that he just couldn’t leave behind,

that he decided not to follow Jesus, but he sadly turned and walked away.

What a difference from another one who when Jesus said

"Follow me," said, "First, Let me bury may Parents,"

and another one, who when called, replied,

To Matthew’s credit, he was open to Jesus’ Call,

and so he seized the opportunity.

He seized the opportunity

Without knowing the full implications of

what it meant to follow Jesus and

what he might be in for..

Nevertheless, Matthew sensed that in the Master’s Call ,

He was presented with the opportunity

to embark upon a New Life and a New Adventure

Far more exciting and far more promising,

beyond any thing else he had ever previously experienced.

We don’t know too much about Matthew,

However, we are so greatly indebted to him.

For in his Gospel, Matthew unflinchingly

Gives us a Jewish perspective and a Jewish insight

Into the life and Ministry of Jesus.

In Matthew’s Gospel,

He presents his testimony to

the Jewish Community,

that in Jesus,

Is the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Old Testament.

And also in The In the Early Church,

The Gospel of St. Matthew became the most popular,

Of the Gospels,

For the Church to use in its

Worship and Liturgy and for Christian Instruction.

Matthew’s reputation as a Tax Collector was not the best,

As Tax Collectors were contemptuously regarded

by those who were so self-righteous.

And yet, Jesus called one of the most despised people of that day,

to be a Follower and to be a Disciple.

It was no less than scandalous for Jesus to call a Tax Collector,

For they were notorious for fraud and extortion.

When the Pharisees asked the Disciples:

We know that the answer to their question is this:

Actually, Folks, there are no other people for Jesus to eat with,

Other than Sinners.

The Truth is , that if Jesus didn’t eat with Sinners,

He wouldn’t have anyone else to eat with.

We see in the call of Matthew,

That our Lord never considered any Sinner

beyond the pale of God’s Love,

or beyond

The possibility of conversion and redemption.

That one as Matthew, regarded by Society as a renegade,

should have become a Disciple,

Through Jesus’ Love and Compassion,

Is an inspiring and a heartening lesson,

That even the most unlikely person,

Through the Grace of God,

Has the potential for good, .

Brethren, the Story of Matthew,

tells us that there is hope for all of us,

That there is hope for you,

And believe it or not,

There is actually even hope for me.

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Today on this St. Matthew’s Day,

We give thanks for those whose Faith and Vision

Founded, Planted and 42 years ago,

began this Mission,

Today, we rejoice that St. Matthew’s Parish

has continued to grow and to prosper,

That

St. Matthews Church has continued to be a vibrant and a joyful

Worshipping Community of Faith,

Ministering to one another and fulfilling its’ Mission to

Reach Out in Service to Others.

So on this Day of the Feast of St. Matthew,

We renew our commitment:

As we look forward to the future,

As we look forward to

the coming months and the coming years,

And as we continue to strive to serve to be faithful,

Let us remember the admonition of the Psalmist who counsels us that:

This tells us that both our Hope and that our Help is in God,

It tells us that God is still the most important part of the Equation.

It tells us that we can work feverishly and vigorously,

but without God,

we will only be spinning our wheels.

It tells us that even with greatest New Rector

on the face of the Earth,

That God, our trust in God and

Our reliance upon God is first of all:

With God’s Grace and with His guidance and His Blessing,

What an exciting future St. Matthew’s Church has before it.

Don’t ever under estimate the Amazing things this Parish can do,

But fasten your seat belts,

For when the Holy Spirit descends upon a

Parish as He has already begun to descend upon St. Matthew’s Parish,

When God lays His Hand upon a Parish as He has already laid His hand upon

This Community of Faith,

For a New Chapter in the Life of this Parish

Whereby great and mighty wonders will be brought about

In other words Brethren,

Get ready to be used,

Get ready to be used

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The Book of Proverbs today tells us to:

Because the truth is

As Bishop Cilley used to say:

And so as our Country comes together,

earnestly struggling to reclaim

The Way of Life and the Values

that we hold so dear and

that are so precious to us,

We continue to Pray,

We continue to Pray

That even in the midst of the turmoil of

Our National Tragedy,

That we will know the Peace of God,

That we will know the Peace of God,

Which to all others in this troubled World and

To those who oppose us

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So we do not pull in and we do not shrink back in fear,

But instead, we will continue to step out in Faith,

We continue to embrace and to proclaim

That

We continue know and that we continue to

hold fast in our hearts,.

That Biblical Truth,

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