Gospel 9-21-24. Matt 9:9-13. St Matthew, Apostle, Evangelist
9 And when Jesus passed on from hence, he saw a man sitting in the custom house, named Matthew; and he saith to him: Follow me. And he rose up and followed him.
Et, cum transiret inde Jesus, vidit hominem sedentem in telonio, Matthaeum nomine. Et ait illi : Sequere me. Et surgens, secutus est eum.
10 And it came to pass as he was sitting at meat in the house, behold many publicans and sinners came, and sat down with Jesus and his disciples.
Et factum est, discumbente eo in domo, ecce multi publicani et peccatores venientes, discumbebant cum Jesu, et discipulis ejus.
11 And the Pharisees seeing it, said to his disciples: Why doth your master eat with publicans and sinners?
Et videntes pharisaei, dicebant discipulis ejus : Quare cum publicanis et peccatoribus manducat magister vester?
12 But Jesus hearing it, said: They that are in health need not a physician, but they that are ill.
At Jesus audiens, ait : Non est opus valentibus medicus, sed male habentibus.
13 Go then and learn what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice. For I am not come to call the just, but sinners.
Euntes autem discite quid est : Misericordiam volo, et non sacrificium. Non enim veni vocare justos, sed peccatores.
St Matthew was at first a publican at the toll station at Capernaum. The publicans on account of their many acts of injustice and extortion, were looked upon as the greatest sinners by many of the Jews. Matthew himself by his humble confession greatly acknowledged the gracious condescension of the Lord to sinners. At his Master's invitation he promptly joined Him. He wrote the first Gospel and preached the Good News in Palestine and in Ethiopia, where he was attacked and killed while saying Mass A.D. 60.
