Today we celebrate Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. In the first reading, Saint Paul tells us what the role is for an apostle in the Church. He includes apostles with other ministers, namely, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. First, how does a person become one of these ministers? “He (God) gave some as….” Sure, there is a process in the church that leads to a person being a bishop (apostle) or a pastor, etc. But let’s not forget that God calls these individuals and gifts them to the Church.

Second, how is a person able to fulfill this ministry and be faithful to this calling? “But grace was given to each of us….” I must depend upon the grace of God because I do not have what it takes within me to do the work to which I am called. I have seen too many burned out ministers who were essentially raised from the dead when they recommitted themselves to Christ and quit trying to do their work on their own steam. Let’s remember that he is the one who can take our few loaves and fishes, bless them, and multiply them. I can’t do that.

Third, what is the role of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers? Well, to do the work of ministry, right? Actually, Saint Paul doesn’t say that. He says that their role is “to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry….” What they do is certainly ministry, but it is primarily teaching the laity how to minister. Think of how much more effective this would be. I served in a parish that had three priests, three deacons, and a dozen or so staff members. Let’s round up the number to 20. Twenty people can do a lot of ministry. However, we served in a parish of 4,500 families, well over 10,000 people. What impact would it have if the 20 got even 10% of the parish involved in serving Christ in the community? That is our primary role, along with “building up the Body of Christ.”

God gives us ministers. God gives his ministers the grace they need to fulfill their ministries. God builds up the Church and equips her for ministry through these ministers. The Apostle Matthew is a good illustration of this. A tax collector was called by Jesus and became a great gift to the Church. He gave himself to the work of ministry and ultimately gave his life for Jesus, dying a martyr in Ethiopia. An early Christian writer, Tertullian, said that “the blood of the martyrs is seed.” Matthew gave up everything and then poured out his life for Christ and his Church. He gave his life “building up the Body of Christ” and the seed of his blood is still producing a mighty harvest even until this day.