Day 31

Scripture
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.
And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”

Matthew 9:9-13 (NRSV)

Prayer
O Almighty God, who by thy blessed Son didst call Matthew from the receipt of custom to be an Apostle and Evangelist; Grant us grace to forsake all covetous desires, and inordinate love of riches, and to follow the same thy Son Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

The Book of Common Prayer (traditional)

Reflection
“As for the works of the Spirit, the fruits of Faith, charitable and godly motions, if he have any at all in him, they proceed only of the Holy Ghost, who is the only worker of our Sanctification, and maketh us new men in Christ Jesus. Did not God’s Holy Spirit miraculously worke in the child David, when of a poor Shepherd, he became a Princely Prophet? Did not God’s Holy Spirit miraculously work in Matthew, sitting at the receit of custom, when of a proud Publican, he became an humble and lowly Evangelist?”

“An Homily on the Coming Down of the Holy Ghost for Whitsunday,” The Second Book Of Homiles (1623)