You're listening to I Pray with the Gospel on the St. Jose Maria Institute podcast.

My name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen. My Lord and my God, I firmly believe that you are here, that you see me, that you hear me.

I adore you with profound reverence.

I ask your pardon for my sins and the grace to make this time of prayer fruitful.

My Maclet Mother, St. Joseph, my Father and Lord, my guardian angel, intercede for me.

The Feast of St. Matthew, a reading from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 9. As Jesus passed on from

there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, follow me.

And he rose and followed him.

And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples,

Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?

And when he had heard it, he said,

Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

Go and learn what this means. I desire

mercy and not sacrifice. For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. Thank you, Matthew, for

your story, because it is you who writes your own story. Thank you, because you were a sinner and became an apostle.

And that is very encouraging for me because I am a sinner, and I have to become an apostle.

Thank you, Matthew, because you were a publican who was lining his pockets with the money of the Jews,

but when Jesus called you, you were ready to leave who was lining his pockets with the money of the Jews, but when Jesus called

you, you were ready to leave everything and follow him. Thank you, Matthew, because you could

have stayed where you were, thinking that it was crazy to leave your job, your money, your plans, and

your future, but you were brave enough to follow Jesus instead. And I give thanks with you to Jesus because he knew you well and was aware of the great

things that you could do.

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