Yet More Goodness

 

You heathen may have missed it but today's the Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. That in mind, think on Our Lord's parable of the laborers and "the last will be first, and the first last." Who are the first? In this instance, surely, the Scribes and Pharisees who "murmur" against Christ. And the last? Tax collectors, harlots and, curiously, higher ranking Roman NCOs. We'd call 'em Warrants, I think. 

These, the latter, come in first in the kingdom because they're repentant sinners as opposed to hypocritical, whitewashed sepulchers. Christ loves them and they turn to him, they repent, whereas the self-righteous, hateful fools do not. 

Woe to them. Such is the unfathomable mercy of God and the implacable judgement of the unjust. Terrifying, when you think on it, yet shot through with hope. St. Matthew, on reflection, lived the parable first hand, in real life, he was a wicked tax collector, some things do not change, who was invited to see the Light and did.

Oremus:

Grant us, O Lord, not to mind earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to cleave to those that shall abide; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Point of the homily? There's hope for us all. Do not lose sight of that, ever.

Your Old Buddy,

LSP

Listen Up Heathen

 

Yesterday was the Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. Here's the late great Canadian, Fr. Crouse:

The mission of the Church is to call us out of darkness; by word and sacrament to set before our eyes the vision of God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ. That is at the heart of liturgy, and all the Christian arts; the light of pure, transcendent glory must shine through, and that is essential to all our intellectual and moral and ascetical disciplines, too. Without that vision, all else so easily falls into deceit and craftiness; or perhaps, at best, narrowness of spirit, or just pedestrian nonsense. But even pedestrian nonsense, you know, if that's all there is, is a pretty nasty form of hell (my emph, LSP).

May we, along with Matthew - rejoicing in his fellowship, and aided by his prayers - be granted grace, that in this liturgy, and in all the images of earthly life, we may glimpse the face of Jesus Christ; and then, beyond all earthly images, "beheld with open face" that everlasting glory. That is, after all, our calling.

I cannot add to that,

LSP

Feast of St. Matthew

It's the Feast of St. Matthew today and after Mass we discussed that bit in the Bible which goes, "Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you." (Matt. 21.31)

When I was younger this used to puzzle me. I thought the "publicans" were pub landlords, you see, and where's the evil in that? Well, some might be, but it doesn't necessarily go with the territory. Then I learned that the term means tax collector - and all became clear.

St. Matthew is the patron saint of bankers.

I should imagine he's working overtime.

God bless,

LSP