SAINT MATTHEW APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST

PRAYER BEFORE MASS 

Go before us O Lord, in this our sacrifice of Prayer and Praise, and grant that we say and sing with our lips we may believe in our hearts, and practice and show forth in our daily lives. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYER AFTER MASS

Bless, O Lord, our hearts and minds, and grant that as we leave Your house, we may continue to be aware of Your presence. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. by Saint John Berchmans, Patron Saint of Altar Boys 

 Readings Lectures  Reflection

Saint Matthew

First Reading Ephesians 4:1-7,11-13

We are all to come to unity, 

fully mature in the knowledge of the Son of God

I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all. 

Each one of us, however, has been given his own share of grace, given as Christ allotted it. To some, his gift was that they should be apostles; to some, prophets; to some, evangelists; to some, pastors and teachers; so that the saints together make a unity in the work of service, building up the body of Christ. In this way we are all to come to unity in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God, until we become the perfect Man, fully mature with the fullness of Christ himself.

Responsorial Psalm

Their word goes forth through all the earth.

 

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

We praise you, O God,

we acknowledge you to be the Lord.

The glorious company of the apostles praise you, O Lord.

Alleluia! cf. Teum Deum

Gospel    Matthew 9:9-13

It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick

As Jesus was walking on, he saw a man named Matthew sitting by the customs house, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.

While he was at dinner in the house it happened that a number of tax collectors and sinners came to sit at the table with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ When he heard this he replied, ‘It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. Go and learn the meaning of the words: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice. And indeed I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.’

My Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ give me a heart full of charity towards my fellow creatures. Remove every spirit of condemnation knowing that the measure I give to my fellow creatures shall be same that I shall receive. Give me an understanding heart, a selfless, gentle and patience heart. May I strive to  preserve unity of Spirit and peace that binds all your creatures together.

Father in heaven there is only one Body, one Spirit.  We are all called into one and the same hope of one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all through Jesus Christ God's only begotten Son our Lord. Lord Jesus Christ none is perfect we are all sinners may we bear with one another. Learn to accept and be compassionate towards one another.

Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. Saint Matthew pray for me. My guardian angel pray for me, guide and direct me.