Saint Matthew’s feast celebrates the apostle whom Christ called from the tax booth. His vocation reveals the transforming initiative of Jesus: Christ does not wait until a person has become worthy before calling him. He calls sinners into discipleship and then changes them through grace. Ephesians describes the Church as one Body with diverse ministries, all directed toward maturity in Christ. Matthew’s own transformation becomes a living example of this truth. The man who once collected taxes becomes an apostle and evangelist, using his gifts in service of the Gospel. The Church therefore celebrates not human achievement but divine mercy that creates new possibilities.

The Catechism teaches that Christ’s call to discipleship is universal and that the Church is apostolic because she remains founded on and guided by the witness of the apostles (CCC 849–865). Apostolic ministry is not self-appointed. Christ chooses and sends. The call of Matthew also illustrates the sacramental and ecclesial character of conversion: the sinner becomes a disciple within a community and is then sent to participate in its mission. Jesus’ declaration that he came to call sinners reveals the heart of his saving mission.

Psalm 19 celebrates the universal proclamation of God’s glory, anticipating the apostolic mission to all nations. Luke 5:27–32 gives the parallel account of Matthew’s call, while 1 Timothy 1:12–16 shows Paul interpreting his own vocation through mercy. 2 Corinthians 5:17–20 describes the Christian as a new creation and ambassador for Christ. The Eucharist is particularly fitting today because Jesus calls sinners not merely to admire him but to sit at table with him. The same Christ who called Matthew continues to call people from every condition of life. Today we should ask where Christ is inviting us to leave an old identity behind. No past sin is greater than his mercy, and no vocation is greater than the grace by which he calls us.