Evenings with Bede: S3, Ep. 6: On the Calling of S. Matthew

In audio, both lessons are read, and are followed by a homily by yours truly. A Lesson from the Gospel according to S. Luke 5:27After healing the paralytic, Jesus went out, and saw a tax collector, named Levi, sitting at the tax office; and He said to him, “Follow me.” And he left everything, and rose and followed Him. And Levi made him a great feast in his house; and there was a large company of tax collectors and others sitting at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes murmured against his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”A Lesson a Gospel Homily by the Ven. S. BedeSaint Luke says that the Lord reclined at table with publicans in Matthew’s house, and that Matthew himself prepared a great feast for Him. If we long to search out what these happenings are at a more profound level of understanding, it was not only in his earthly house that Matthew produced a bodily feast for the Lord, but with great gratitude in the house of his breast he prepared a feast for Him through faith and love, as Christ Himself attests, saying, “Behold, I stand at the doorway and knock. If anyone listens to my voice and opens the gate, I will come in to him and sup with him and he with Me” (Rev 3.20). The Lord stands at the doorway and knocks when He pours into our heart the memory of His will, either through the mouth of a preacher who is teaching us or through his own internal inspiration. When His voice is heard we open the gate to receive Him when we willingly present our assent to His counsels, whether secret or open, and devote ourselves to accomplishing those things which we recognize are to be done. He comes in order to sup with us and we with Him, for He dwells in the hearts of His elect through the grace of His love in order to restore them always by the light of His presence, so that they may advance more and more to heavenly desires, and so that He Himself may feed their zeal for heaven, as it were, with a most pleasing banquet. . . . It is a pleasure to remember, brethren, to what height of justice the Lord fetched Matthew, whom He chose out of His publican activities in order to increase for sinners the hope of forgiveness. The apostolic band into which he was incorporated teaches what kind of person Matthew became. The nation of the Ethiopians teaches this as well. By his preaching he converted this nations from the farthest end of the earth to the fellowship of holy Church. . . . Whenever we recognize that the magnificence of the eternal King is proclaimed in the books of the holy evangelists, we should fall down humbly before Him, implore His mercy with devout prayers, and attribute whatever sort of good work we are able to have not to our own merits, but always to His grace.If you find this edifying, please consider (if you haven’t already) becoming a paid subscriber. Your support goes directly to supporting the ministry of Akenside Institute for English Spirituality, a project I started 12 years ago to help to rebuild the Anglican tradition. Get full access to Anglican Ascetic Podcast at frmcdallman.substack.com/subscribe