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The Truth that St. Matthew emphasizes about Jesus, is that in addition to being the Son of God, He is also fully human, like us in all things except sin. Matthew uses the phrase “Son of Man” on many occasions to emphasize this. The very beginning of Matthew’s Gospel highlights’ our Lord’s humanity and that He is the fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies in saying that: The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” - Matthew 1:1 Matthew’s audience had in it may Jewish converts, so showing this connection of the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies is key. Jesus is the long-awaited One. |
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Just like the Jews were waiting for the Scriptures to be fulfilled, our hopes and longings can only be fulfilled by Jesus! What things are we waiting for? How is Jesus the fulfillment of our hopes? Do I pray for an increase of the faith, hope, and love that I was given at my Baptism?
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:43-44)
Not only does Jesus perfectly fulfill the Old Testament, He alone is also the authentic interpreter of it. Matthew understands that Jesus is the supreme law-giver, the Divine Word who orders all things. Jesus teaches the law on the highest of levels and, in teaching, shows us that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He moves past the mere external fulfillment of the law and brings out the essence of the law: LOVE! Jesus demands total and radical love from us. What new ways is Jesus calling us to love? Do we merely try to fulfill the letter of the Church’s laws or do we live them with burning love for God and our neighbor? What are ways that we are submitting our lives totally to Christ and how can we improve? Do I truly mean it when I pray, “Thy will be done”?
“ ‘And they shall name him Emmanuel,’ which means ‘God is with us.’ ” (Matthew 1:23)
Matthew clearly highlights that in the person of Jesus Christ, the God of the whole universe takes flesh and is present to all mankind in a way that we humans can understand, namely as a man. And not only was God present when before Jesus suffered, died, rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven, but Jesus’ last words in Matthew’s Gospel reassure us that
“I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
What great comfort and joy! In what ways are we aware of His presence with us always? What are ways that we can deepen our awareness of that presence? Do we live as people in whom the very Trinity dwells?
“Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ” (Matthew 4:17)
The Kingdom of heaven is indeed at hand with Jesus’ preaching, though not yet in its fullness. Jesus proclaims the kingdom that is both present reality and future hope. Membership in the kingdom, however, is not for whom one might think. Jesus warns that who take their membership for granted and are not bearing fruit are the very ones in danger of losing membership in the kingdom. Rather, Jesus proclaims blessed those who are lowly, who are poor in spirit, who are mourning, who are persecuted for His sake. It is to these people that Jesus grants membership in the kingdom of heaven. The same is true for us; we cannot take our membership in the Church and in the kingdom for granted. In what ways do we take all the gifts that God has given us for granted? Do we show thanks for God’s many blessings? How can we try to make ourselves more like the lowly to whom membership in the kingdom is given?
“Never has anything like this been seen in Israel.” (Matthew 9:33)
Jesus is the teacher and rabbi of all Israel and indeed of all humanity. Matthew points out how frequently Jesus is addressed by this title. His teaching, however, is something different, something drastically new. He embodies His teaching in actions, mighty acts of power. Such mighty acts are not signs in the superficial sense like Jesus’ opponents want to see, but rather show that Jesus triumphs over all of nature, even over death itself. Jesus embodies His teaching for us in these mighty acts as well. What mighty acts of power has Jesus done for us? How do we allow these wonders to have an impact on our everyday life? Do we look for merely superficial signs to artificially prop up our faith rather than appreciate what God has already done for us?
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Mosaic of St. Matthew as depicted in the Cathedral of Washington, D.C. |
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WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM? Matthew’s Perspective: |
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Matthew 16.13-28 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
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