Matthew, the Tax Collector

As Jesus passed by,
he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, “Follow me.”
And he got up and followed him.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners came
and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples,
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
He heard this and said,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

—Matthew 9:9-13

What could the prophet want of me?
I speak with Caesar's voice
and eat my meals with hands unclean
from counting out his coins.
But Jesus passed me at my post,
and that was all he said—
just “Follow me,” and I was lost,
and now he shares my bread.

The holy men who spit at me
are gathered at my door
to sneer and crane their necks to see
and judge the wine I pour,
but he has thanked me for the wine
and he has blessed my bread,
and for perhaps the only time
I finally am fed.

I wept to hear his voice in prayer—
I was forgiven then,
and I would follow anywhere
to taste this joy again.
So let the righteous turn away;
they have their sacrifice.
We who have eaten well today
have seen and known the Christ.

The Calling of Saint Matthew, 1599–1600, Caravaggio By Caravaggio – Self-scanned, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15219497

The Day Will Come

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said,
“Why do we and the Pharisees fast much,
but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn
as long as the bridegroom is with them?
The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
and then they will fast.”
Matthew 9:14-15

This, rather, is the fasting that I wish:
            releasing those bound unjustly,
            untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed
            breaking every yoke;
Sharing your bread with the hungry,
            sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
            and not turning your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
            and your wound shall quickly be healed;
Your vindication shall go before you,
            and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,
            you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!
Isaiah 58:1-9a

The day will come: The bridegroom will be taken.
We lay aside our spotless bridal gown.
The sun has dimmed, and all the earth is shaken;
we lay him out, enfolded in his shroud.
So let us fast, e'en as our hearts are breaking;
so let us weep and mourn our sins aloud.

He will return and bring with him fulfillment;
until he does, the fast before us lies.
The promise lives, but cannot be fulfilled yet,
so day by day the tears escape our eyes.
Our bridegroom knew—he wept for us and still went—
and now we fast and lift our heartrent cries.

So we must rend our hearts instead of garments,
and smash the yoke that weighs our brothers down,
share out our bread, give shelter to the homeless,
untie the ropes that hold our sisters bound.
Then light shall break, and he shall go before us:
The bridegroom comes, and we shall wear his crown!

*Ecce Homo*, Nuno Gonçalves, 15th century By Unknown author – [1], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6014228

Broken Bread

As Jesus passed by,
he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, “Follow me.”
And he got up and followed him.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners came
and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples,
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
He heard this and said,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
Matthew 9:9-13

Christ, the broken bread of heaven,
dines with sinners at his side:
Flawed, impure of heart and leaven,
yet their hope is not denied.
From his table, none are driven;
in his mercy they abide.

Who are we that hear him calling?
Sinners, as the ones before.
Weak and helpless, barely crawling, 
still we see him at the door.
Reaching for him, we are falling:
He will raise us from the floor.

Not the strength of all the mighty,
not the whole world's gathered wealth,
naught restores the restores the souls we've blighted,
nurses wounded hearts to health,
'til he calls: We are invited
where the shepherd gives himself.

Not the sacrifices offered,
not the blood of countless sheep,
but the gift of Christ the shepherd
will our lives in mercy keep.
Underneath his cloak we're sheltered,
where we rest secure and sleep.

Can be sung to ST. THOMAS/TANTUM ERGO.