(First century) Matthew, aka Levi, a Roman tax collector and son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27-29), was from Capernaum on Lake Genesareth. He wrote the Gospel according to Matthew to convince Jews that Jesus was the anticipated Messiah. Matthew preached among Jews in Judea and other countries, possibly in Ethiopia. According to tradition, he was martyred in Ethiopia at the altar after rebuking the King there for lust-related sin. Matthew is often depicted in art as the winged man, one of the four living creatures surrounding God’s throne in Revelation 4:7.
Jesus called, and Matthew (Levi) immediately answered (Matthew 9:9, Mark 2:14, and Luke 5:27). Are we making space to hear God’s voice (Step 11), seeking “through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God”? Once we hear Him, do we respond (Step 11 and 3)? Are we “praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out”?
“As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him” (Matthew 9:9).
Reflection by Brad Farmer