Today, we celebrate the Feast of St. Matthew, the Apostle and evangelist. He himself relates his conversion. He was sitting in the custom-house and Jesus invited him to follow Him. Matthew —continues in his Gospel— “got up and followed him” (Mt 9:9). With Matthew the group of the Twelve welcomes a different man altogether, both for his upbringing and for his social position and wealth. His father made him study economics so he would be able to fix the price of wheat and wine; of the fish Peter, Andrew and the Zebedee’s' sons would bring him, and of the precious pearls the Gospel speaks about.

His profession, as a tax collector, was frowned upon. Those practicing this profession were considered the same as publicans and sinners. He was at the service of King Herod, lord of Galilee, a king hated by the people and one who is depicted in the New Testament as adulterous, John the Baptist's murderer and who, on Good Friday, mocks Jesus. What would Matthew think when he was due to render accounts to King Herod? Matthew's conversion must have meant a true release for him, as proved by the banquet he organizes inviting publicans and sinners. It was his own way of showing his gratitude to the Master for being able to get rid himself of a most miserable position and find true happiness. Saint Bede the Venerable, while commenting on Matthew's conversion, writes: “This conversion of one tax collector gave many men, those from his own profession and other sinners, an example of repentance and pardon… No sooner was he converted than Matthew drew after him a whole crowd of sinners along the same road to salvation.”

In his conversion we can see God's mercy, as shown by Jesus' answer to the Pharisees' criticism: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” (Mt 9:13).