ST Matthew’s life encapsulates the Christian story.
Not much is known of his early life, though St Matthew was likely born in Capernaum, Galilee, and he went on to live as a tax collector in Roman Judea.
Admonished by society, it was through this work that St Matthew encountered Jesus.
Christ’s simple words, “follow me” saw St Matthew leave everything behind.
“Matthew got up and followed him” (Matthew 9:9).
St Matthew would go on to become an apostle, and following Jesus’ ascension into Heaven, he stayed in and about Jerusalem, proclaiming Jesus as the promised Messiah.
During this time he wrote the Gospel of Matthew, the first book of the New Testament and one of the synoptic Gospels.
Early Church Fathers and other writers, like St Irenaeus, Origen, St John Chrysostom, St Jerome and St Augustine all relied upon St Matthew’s writings, with evidence pointing towards it being written by 69AD.
St Matthew’s work would eventually lead him beyond Judea, with sources all agreeing on his work in Ethiopia.
Some sources even say that St Matthew would eventually convert the daughter of the King.
St Matthew’s life saw him leave his old ways behind to follow Christ and evangelise his people, providing us with an example of redemption and sacrifice.
The Church celebrates the life of St Matthew on September 21. St Matthew is represented under the symbol of a winged man, carrying in his hand a lance as a characteristic emblem.
