Sep 21 – Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
St. Matthew was the son of Alphaeus, and he lived at Capernaum on Lake Genesareth. He was a Roman tax collector, a position equated with collaboration with the enemy by those from whom he collected taxes. Jesus’ contemporaries were surprised to see the Christ with a traitor, but Jesus explained that he had come “not to call the just, but sinners”.
Matthew’s Gospel is given pride of place in the canon of the New Testament, and was written to convince Jewish readers that their anticipated Messiah had come in the person of Jesus. He preached among the Jews for 15 years; his audiences may have included the Jewish enclave in Ethiopia, and places in the East.
- Patron Saint Index
Eph 4:1-7,11-13
Mt 9:9-13
“It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick.”
I was watching Season 1 of ‘The Chosen’ a few months ago and Matthew was portrayed as a character with autism. I thought that it was an interesting development because Matthew was known for writing specific details in his Gospel, notably Jesus’s genealogy. Attention to detail was also an important trait for him to be a tax collector.
Due to Matthew’s quirks and occupation, he was also portrayed as an outcast among the Jews. As a person with disabilities, there are times when I feel like an outcast. Although it wasn’t portrayed on screen, I believe that Matthew must have felt despondent and even depressed at times.
But despite all these shortcomings, Jesus still called Matthew to be a disciple. He knew Matthew deserved God’s love, just like everyone needed His love. And God truly loves each and every one of us, no matter how sinful we are or lowly our status is.
Recently, I had a personal experience of God’s true love and healing power.
For several years, I had been struggling with addictions. I still went to weekly confession, weekly Masses, and sometimes adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. However, I could not pray, and the rosary was something that I would always run away from. I was feeling scared, even angry whenever someone prayed the rosary. I would try to wear the scapular too, but my mysterious anger and fear would overwhelm me so much that I took it off after a few days of wearing it.
At one point in time, I angrily took all my rosaries, as well as pictures and statues of Jesus and Our Lady, out of my environment.
I did confess this to a priest many years ago, and I remember the priest asking me, “Do you think that Jesus can’t see you even if you put these holy items out of your place?” He told me that Jesus is like electricity; you don’t see it but it’s what powers our smartphones and electrical appliances. So Jesus is like oxygen too — we can’t see oxygen, but we need it for our life.
I had always asked Jesus to free me of my addictions, because they were severe to the point that my daily functioning had been affected. I addressed these issues to my psychologists, who did not quite know how to help me. Not even a doctor could help.
On August 14, 2023, I made my way to a local church for confession, and I wanted to go for the Vigil Mass of Our Lady’s Assumption.
During confession, I had finished confessing my sins when suddenly, the Holy Spirit revealed to me a sin that I’ve never confessed before. I had always omitted the sin somehow during previous confessions due to my mind blanking it out. So, without hesitation, I confessed it. A wave of guilt and shame washed over me.
Suddenly, I felt something gripping onto me from my left side. It straightened my body and immobilised me. My speech was also cut off so I couldn’t speak. And then it pulled my head back and my eyes upwards. I was made to stare at the light bulb above me for one whole minute without blinking. I also wasn’t feeling any pain while staring at it!
I was getting scared. I thought, “What is going on?” I wanted to tell the confessor on the other side of the box (we were separated by a screen), but I realised I had lost the power of speech momentarily.
And then, I heard a gentle voice on my right side saying, “Do not worry.”
By the mighty power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, I was freed shortly after. I regained my mobility and speech, and my eyes were normal again.
When I left the confessional, it was only when Mass started did I realise that August 14 was the Feast of St Maximilian Kolbe, who is the patron saint of addictions! I believe he was secretly praying for me to be freed from my addictions.
And I also realised that I have been healed of my addictions when I left the church. For once, after so many years, I was able to function normally. Prayer finally became easy for me.
Alleluia, Jesus indeed healed me of my spiritual illness!
The church is truly a place for the sinners to seek God’s love, mercy, and healing.
May we all be like St Matthew, who’s not afraid of following Jesus and His love, even when we may not even be loved by society.
Because at the end of the day, what truly matters is God’s infinite love for us.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Brenda Khoo)
Prayer: Dear Lord, please heal us of our physical, mental, and spiritual illnesses. And please encourage us to go to church to seek Your love and healing. Amen.
Thanksgiving: Thank you Lord, for giving us Your healing love and mercy when we are sick. Amen.
OXYGEN 
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