Feast of St Matthew (Made New Like Matthew)

Sermon Text: Matthew 9:9‐13 Matthew goes by two names: Levi and Matthew (which means "gift of God"). Although we don't know why there is this difference, it could very well be that Matthew sees himself as a gift of God, made new in Christ, instead of himself as Levi the sinful tax collector. He is made new in Christ and it is a miracle. Christ making us a new person--forgiven and holy--it is miraculous. It is not obvious with the eye that we a new people, which might mean we see ourselves as the same old person we always were. But if Christ gave us his sight, we would see someone beloved by God and remade as a gift to the world. Let us be the gifts God made us to be by loving the world in Christ. Each ordinary and mundane task and relationship is a way for us to share Christ's love with the people around us.