Second Sunday of Saint Matthew — of All Saints of North America
06/26/2016
Throughout the year the Church prescribes readings from the New Testament, as well as from the Old Testament, for us. Beginning last Sunday, the Sunday of all Saints, we read from the Gospel of Matthew. We will continue to read from it until the week before the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross (September 14th).
After the Feast of the Holy Cross, we will begin reading from the Gospel of Luke and will continue to do so (with interruptions during the Great Feasts) until the time before the Great Fast. During Lent we read from the Gospel of Saint Mark and others, and during the period between Pascha and Pentecost we read from the Gospel of Saint John.
Today’s Gospel lesson from Saint Matthew takes us to the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, and the calling of the first Apostles. Those who are students of the Bible will note, however, that Saint John describes the calling of Andrew and Peter in a slightly different manner. Saint John Chrysostom points out in this regard that Matthew’s account describes a second calling of these two Apostles.
In John’s Gospel it was said that Andrew and Peter came to Jesus before John the Baptist was cast into prison. In Matthew’s account, Jesus called them after John was imprisoned.
In John’s Gospel it was said that Jesus called Andrew, and Andrew called Peter to hear Jesus. In Matthew, Jesus called them both.
In John’s Gospel Jesus saw Peter coming and gave him a new name: “Jesus looked at Peter, and said, ‘So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas’ (which means Peter).” In Matthew’s account, we read that Simon was already called Peter.
In John’s account, the Apostles encountered Jesus, but were not called to follow Him. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus commanded them to leave everything behind and be His followers.
How could this be? How could they drop everything – their nets, their livelihood, even their father – and abandon the world to follow Jesus? The answer is simple. In John’s account they had just met Jesus, and were not ready to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. In Matthew’s Gospel, which occurred some time later, they had already been well instructed and prepared by Jesus’ teaching.
How about us? Are we prepared to forsake everything and follow Jesus? Unless we do, we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. If we are not yet ready, perhaps we need to learn more from Him and about Him. We do this by attending the Liturgy and other services, by hearing the words of Holy Scripture and of the sacred hymns, and by receiving the Holy Mysteries.
Come, taste, and see that the Lord is good!