Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 St. Mathew. The apostle day

Isaiah 4 :1-6
 

Jerusalem restored.
Mathew was one of Jesus’s chosen apostles who was called to serve and follow him. They left their livelihood jobs and followed Jesus blindly. He is also called the Levi. He was born in Nazareth and belonged to Galilee. Since he was a tax collector the people of his neighborhood looked upon him with contempt. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law complained of Jesus’s act of drinking and eating with the downtrodden of the society. But Jesus’s reply was “it is not the healthy who needed a doctor but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. The people who considered themselves righteous did not see the need for a savior. The wretched and the poor who accepted themselves as sinners flocked around Jesus for salvation.

Mathew authored the first gospel of the New Testament. History says Mathew became a missionary and was arrested in Ethiopia. He later became a martyr for Christ. He is considered a saint by the Roman Catholic church and twenty first of September is celebrated as his feast day In the west and sixteenth of November in the east is considered as the apostle’s day. He was the son of Alphaeus and brother of James.

The disciples of Jesus were ordinary people and were not of any global influence. He taught them, showed them and used them to win souls for the kingdom of heaven and restore humanity. In today’s portion for our devotion Isaiah used the word branch to denote Judah and the coming Messiah. He is describing the prosperity and blessing that the people of Judah may one day experience following God’s judgement on them. This is also the first reference in the bible for Mesiah as the Branch of the Lord. The branch is an image of life and prosperity, and the verse indicates blessings that Jesus will bring to God’s people. This blessing will allow the fallen sinners to regain the fellowship and peace with God. This prophecy thus gives hope to the Israelites that Jerusalem will be someday restored again. Jesus Christ is our hope and the ultimate giver of life. He is the only savior of the humanity.
 

Prayer
Lord as we celebrate St. Mathew’s day, we acknowledge that you are our source of life and salvation. We earnestly wait for your second coming. Prepare our hearts and minds to welcome you into our life and lead a sin free life worthy of our creation and calling.
Thought for the day:
Lord help us to be investors in people who can win souls for your kingdom.

Dr Thomas K. Jose
Mar Thoma church Staten Island

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