In today’s gospel from Matthew, Mathew the Tax Collector,
is sitting there at his custom’s post and Jesus passes by. He stops. He spots
Matthew. He calls Matthew! Matthew stands up. Matthew followsJesus. Just like that.
GESTURES
If you want, take your hand and hold up your index finger
towards the ceiling.Now point it
towards your chest and say, “Who me?”Try that!
Next take that same finger - make out you’re Jesus - and
point that finger towards Matthew and once more say, “You! Follow me.”
“Who me?”
The key message from this gospel and from this reading is
this: “God calls the one who is a sinner.”
At the end of today’s gospelwe hear that Jesus has come to call the
sinner.
There it is: the central message, thecentral point of Christ.Jesus came to bring mercy - forgiveness -
understanding - acceptance - love for each of us.
CARAVAGGIO
In 2014 I went to
Rome on a trip with people from the parish I was in. We went with a group on a
bus tripto Rome. The plan was take
different tours or side trips around Rome. Since I once spent 5 weeks in Rome, my plan
was to go to the Redemptorst Headquarters and see some Redemptorists there that
I knew.
However,I spotted
two old ladies who were on our tour. They were by themselves. I knew them from
other trips. I asked them what they were going to do. They said, “Oh, just walk
around.” Hearing that, I dropped my
plans and asked if they wanted company. “Gladly!” One was 77 and the other was
82.I figured that would be the thing to
do.
We saw St. Peter’s and then started walking.I had been with them on other tours and if they
saw a Victoria’s Secret - they had to go in. So I waited outside. They came out
laughing and laughing - without buying anything. Next,we
found ourselves in the Piazza Navonne - where they have three fountains -
including the enormous Neptune statue.
Surprise I see a church over the water sprays of the
fountain and I said, “Let’s check that church.”
It was the French church - San Luigi dei Francesi - St.
Louis of the French. It was a baroque church from the 1500’s. Surprise - I
didn’t know this - but it had 3 famous painting of St. Mathew.A Cardinal - with the name of Matthew wanted
paintings of St. Matthew.They got an
artist but he dropped out, so someone picked Caravaggio.
By total accident I saw 3 Caravaggios that day: The Call of Matthew, The Inspiration of St. Matthew and the Martyrdom of Matthew ....
I liked The Call of
Matthew the best.
There was Matthew - the sinner - in a tavern with Christ
pointing towards him.There was Matthew
pointing his finger towards himself - seeming to say, “Who me?”
He’s at table with 4 others counting money. Christ calls
Matthew the sinner.
Seeing that I had a future sermon.
Today I’m finally using it. Caravvagio the sinner painted
great big paintings - with light and shadow. He understood calls from God or Christ. He was so good he
had many offers and commissions.
Caravvagio knew grace, call, love, sin, light darkness.
He was a pimp, a murderer, being chased by police, escaping from prison -
probably murdered himself at 38.
We bought the book - the guide book from that church -
with the 3 paintings of Matthew.
CONCLUSION: HOMEWORK
If you use google - type into the search box, “Caravaggio;
the Call of Matthew.”
Study the painting in the context of today’s gospel
reading: Matthew 9:9-13.
Then check out the various YouTube short videos on
Caravaggio and Matthew.
If Caravaggio becomes an interest for you - or even an
addiction - go for it.
What I’m saying is this: there are lots of paintings by
Caravaggio. Study them all. Connect them to the Bible text they are depicting
and you’ll have some great spiritual reading and picturing.
Or if you get to Rome get to see this painting by
Caravaggio: the Call of Matthew. Pope Francis loved this painting and told people
going to Rome, to make sure you spent time at this painting. Amen.
