My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
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ON NOVEMBER 16th OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE LIFE AND PASSION OF THE HOLY APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST MATTHEW
When He Who is God and the Only Sinless Son of God, Who came in the likeness of man to save the sinful human race, was leaving Capernaum, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at his custom-booth, and said to him, "Follow Me." Hearing these words not only with his bodily ears but with those of his soul as well, the publican forsook everything and followed after Christ. Christ visited his home, and Matthew set a meal before the Lord; and Matthew's neighbors, friends, and many of his acquaintances, publicans and sinners, came to dine with Jesus and His Disciples. Seeing that the Lord did not shun these people but sat at table with them, the Pharisees and Scribes said to His Disciples, "Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?"
Hearing this, Jesus said, "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Saint Matthew, who was the brother of James, son of Alphaeus, became a Disciple and emulator of Christ and was deemed worthy to be numbered among the Twelve Apostle. So that the honor of the Apostolic rank might not suffer, the other Evangelist refer to him not as Matthew, son of Alphaeus, but by his other name, Levi, thus concealing his former occupation of publican, since he was known to very few as Levi. Because of his great humility, however, Saint Matthew in his own Gospel speaks of himself using the name Matthew. Thus he acknowledges, as it were, his former sinful way of life before the whole world and offers other sinners an example of humble repentance, assisting them to turn to the Lord and not be ashamed to confess their sins.
It was Saint Matthew who, after the descent of the Holy Spirit, was to write the first of the Gospels. He wrote his Gospel in the Hebrew tongue eight years after the Lord's Ascension, for those among the Jews, who had come to believe. Then he preached the Gospel in various countries, notably Parthia and Media, and also traveled through Ethiopia, which had fallen to him by lot, illuminating that land with the light of understanding of the Holy Gospel. Finally, guided by the Holy Spirit, he went to a country inhabited by black, savage cannibals, entering a city known as Mirmena. There he gained a number of souls for the Lord. He appointed as their Bishop Plato, his companion, and built a little church for them. Then he ascended a nearby mountain, upon which he made his dwelling. He fasted and prayed fervently to God for the conversion of the unbelieving people, and the Lord appeared to him in the guise of a comely youth, holding in His right hand a staff. Christ bestowed His peace on the Apostle and then stretched out His arm to give him the staff, commanding Saint Matthew to descend from the mountain and to plant the staff before the doors of the church he had built. "This staff." said the Lord, "shall take root and by My power grow into a lofty tree. The tree shall bring forth abundant fruit, surpassing all other fruits in beauty and sweetness. A spring of pure water shall flow forth from its root, and the appearance of the cannibals who drink the water shall be changed. They shall lay aside their savage ways, becoming meek and good."
Taking the staff, Saint Matthew came down from the mount and entered the city as commanded. On the way, the Apostle was met by the wife and son of Fulvian, the Prince that ruled the city. They were tormented by demons and cried out with wild, threatening voices, "Who was it that sent you here with that staff to destroy us?"
The Saint rebuked the unclean spirits and expelled them, and the healed mother and son fell down before the holy Apostle and humbly began to follow him. Bishop Plato learned of Matthew's coming, and taking his clergy, went out to meet him. The Saint went to the church and planted the staff, and straightway, in the presence of all, it grew into a lofty tree which spread forth leafy branches. Upon it appeared beautiful fruit, very large and delicious, and a spring of water flowed from its roots. Everyone who beheld this was filled with wonder. The entire city came to see the miracle, to partake of the sweet fruit, and to drink the pure water. The holy Apostle Matthew, standing on a high place, preached the word of God in the language of the people, and they immediately believed in the Lord and were baptized by the Apostle in the miraculous spring. First Matthew baptized the Prince's wife and her son, who had been afflicted by evil spirits, then all the people who believed in Christ. Those who were baptized emerged from the waters comely and radiant: having put off the old man, darkened by sin, and arrayed themselves in the new man, which is in Christ, they were granted bodily cleansing and purification and adornment of their souls as well.
When the Prince learned of the healing of his wife and son, he rejoiced at first, but then, prompted by the devil, became angry with the Apostle since the entire city was following him and forsaking the pagan gods. He decided to put the Saint to death. That night, the Savior appeared to the Apostle and commanded him to take courage, promising to remain with him during the tribulations to come.
Morning found the holy Apostle with the faithful in the church chanting God's praises. The Prince sent out four warriors to seize Matthew, but when they reached the church, darkness enveloped them, and it was only with difficulty that they succeeded in returning to the Prince. When asked why they had not brought back Matthew, they replied, "We heard his voice when he spoke, but could neither see nor lay hold of him." (Source: The Great Collection of the Lives of the Saints)
(To be continued)
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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" - Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry)
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George