Calendar of Saints

September 21  Feast of saint Matthew

The apostle Matthew has two names in the gospels: Matthew and Levi. Since only the name Matthew is entered in the gospel lists of the 12 apostles, it is commonly held that this his name was Levi until Jesus called him to be a disciple, then he was called which means 'gift of God' in Aramaic.

Mark and Luke record that Levi, the son of Alphaeus, was sitting in the tax office when the Lord called him. Being a Jewish tax caollector for the Romans meant Matthew was considered impure and socially unacceptable by the Jewish commnunity. Jesus himself was rebuked for eating with tax collectors and sinners.

After Pentecost, Matthew worked in the church made up mostly of Jews who believed thah  Jesus was the Saviour. The gospel bearing his name was composed around AD 85 and was written for Jewish-Christians. In it, is shown as the fulfillment of God's Old Testament promises of a Messiah. Tradition holds that after the Resurrection, Matthew preached in Ethopia, where he was martyred. He is the parton of customs officers and accountants.