VERSION: 29 April 2002
ST MATTHEW, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST
(21 September)
ST MATTHEW
'Matthew (the son of Alpheus, according to Mark) was a tax collector for the Roman government in Capernaum. He is called Levi in the accounts of his call to discipleship, although in the lists of the Twelve he is always called Matthew. It is frequently believed that Levi was his original name and that Matthew (Hebrew, "gift from God") was given to him after he became a disciple. Since the second century the authorship of the first gospel has been attributed to Matthew. He is usually represented in art by a winged man (suggested by Ezekiel 1:1-10 and 10:8-14).'
(Contemporary Worship 6: The Church Year, Calendar and Lectionary, 1973)
IN YEAR A
In year A the lectionary on the Gospel according to St Matthew. Thought could be given to highlighting this festival in year A, either by transferring it to the nearest Sunday, or by celebrating it during the week.
LITURGY
PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)
Traditional
Almighty God,
you called your servant St Matthew
from a selfish pursuit of gain
to become an apostle and evangelist.
Free us from all possessiveness
and love of riches,
so that we may follow in the steps
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For he lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
OR, modernised traditional
Almighty God,
you have build your church
on the foundation of the apostles and prophets.
Join us together in one spirit
by their teaching,
and make us into a holy temple pleasing to you.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
OR, alternative
Almighty and merciful God,
you have instructed your holy church
with the teaching of your evangelist and apostle, St Matthew.
Do not let us be blown about
by every wind of deceitful teaching,
but build us up in the truth
of the good news about your salvation.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
OR, another alternative
Lord, come to your church with your love,
and enlighten us with the truth
of the good news of your salvation,
which you made known through your holy evangelist, St Matthew.
May we who believe in you through this good news
inherit the kingdom
which you have prepared for us.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
FIRST READING
Ezekiel 2:8 - 3:11 God calls Ezekiel to be a prophet
PSALM
Psalm 119:33-40
Antiphon:
Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes. (Ps 119:33a NRSV)
SECOND READING
Ephesians 2:4-10 We are saved by God's grace
ALLELUIA VERSE (Luke 5:32 NIV)
Alleluia, alleluia.
(Jesus said:) 'I have not come to call the righteous
but sinners to repentance'.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL
Matthew 9:9-13 Jesus calls Matthew the tax collector to follow him
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Call to prayer
St Matthew heard the call of Jesus, and followed him, and so received healing for his soul. Let us follow Jesus in praying to the Father, asking that his healing may flow through us, and to all who are in need.
The regular response, OR:
Merciful God,
hear our prayer.
Suggested intercessions
*
|
thanks for the ministry of St Matthew
|
*
|
that the spiritually sick may receive healing from God
|
*
|
that those who are despised in our society may be called into the kingdom of God
|
*
|
for all who work for the the Taxation Department, for those who make tax laws, and for citizens who are required to pay tax, that they would comply with the laws
|
*
|
thanks for the gift of the Bible in today's language, and for all Bible translators
|
Concluding prayer
Heavenly Father, we are the people you have created for good works. Equip us with whatever we need in the journey to our heavenly home, and let us always follow your Son in faith. In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
HYMNS AND SONGS
BY ALL YOUR SAINTS
The hymn 'By all your saints in warfare' by Horatio Bolton Nelson may be used; the second verse focusing on St Matthew has here been modernised by David Sch¸tz. It may be sung to the tune Nyland (LH 16), or to the original tune King's Lynn (LBW 177, 178; LW 193, 194; TIS 249). The first line of verse 1 could be changed to: 'By saints on earth who struggle'.
By all your saints in warfare,
for all your saints at rest,
your holy name, O Jesus,
forevermore be blest!
For you have won the battle
that they might wear the crown;
and now they shine in glory
reflected from your throne.
Praise for your servant Matthew,
whose gospel we declare;
who left his tax collecting
and in your suff'ring shared.
From all this world's temptation,
release our captive hearts,
that we, whate'er our calling,
may follow in your path.
Then let us praise the Father,
and worship God the Son,
and sing to God the Spirit,
eternal Three-in-one,
till all the ransomed number
fall down before the throne,
ascribing power and glory,
and praise to God alone.
TOGETHER IN SONG
Suggested hymns/songs for St Matthew may be found on page 1094 of the Harmony edition of Together in Song.
PSALM 119:33-40
For musical settings of Psalm 119:33-40, see Music Packages 6 and 10.
VISUAL
COLOUR
The colour for the day is red.
SYMBOLS
St Matthew is usually represented by a winged man (since his gospel begins with the human ancestry of Jesus). His shield is decorated with a hatchet, three money bags (tax collector origin) or a money chest.
|