Today's the Feast of St. Matthew, a wicked tax collector who repented and followed Christ, much to the disgust of the self-righteous, hypocritical Pharisees. But what can we say? Christ tells us, "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." (Lk 15:7)
Such a powerful warning and also an encouragement, the latter being that there's hope for us yet, think of Matthew himself or worse yet, the thief on the cross who turns to Christ in his death agony, "Remember me, Lord, when you come into your kingdom," only to receive the reply, "Today you will be with me in paradise."
What a corrective against the hideous, judgemental, pride of the Pharisee. By all means hate the sin, and we should, not least our own, but love the sinner. Matthew is an example of the effect of such grace.
O ALMIGHTY God, who by thy blessed Son didst call Matthew from the recipt of custom to be an Apostle and Evangelist; Grant us grace to forsake all covetous desires, and inordinate love of riches, and to follow the same thy Son Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.
