The Call of St. Matthew | Caravaggio’s Masterpiece & God’s Call to Us ~ Fr. Perricone

About this sermon

When Jesus Christ called Matthew away from the tax collector’s table, the future apostle must have wondered: “Me? You are calling me?” In this Catholic sermon for the Feast of St. Matthew, we contemplate Caravaggio’s masterpiece, *The Calling of Saint Matthew*. Inside a dark room filled with money and disreputable company, Christ extends His hand toward Matthew and commands him to follow. The astonished tax collector points to himself, unable to believe that the Savior could be calling someone like him. Matthew was hated and despised because he collected taxes for the Roman Empire. Yet Christ saw beyond his past and placed within his soul the grace that would transform him into an apostle, evangelist, martyr, and inspired author of the Holy Gospel. That same call is directed toward us. In the ordinary circumstances of every day, Christ points toward each soul and says, “Come, follow Me.” We may respond by showing Him our sins, attachments, weakness, pride, cowardice, and fear of failure. Nevertheless, Our Lord continues to answer: “Yes, you. I have chosen you.” Our past does not prevent God from making us saints. The question is whether we will continue making excuses or finally arise from the tax collector’s table and follow Christ. The time for delay is over. It is time for Catholics to do great things for God. St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, pray for us! 00:00 Introduction 00:17 Opening prayer 00:29 Renaissance paintings of St. Matthew 00:52 Caravaggio breaks with tradition 01:13 The Calling of Saint Matthew 01:20 The painting’s dark setting 01:36 Tax collectors counting money 01:51 Christ enters the darkness 02:08 St. Matthew’s astonished reaction 02:15 “Me? You are calling me?” 02:29 Why tax collectors were despised 03:02 Christ truly calls Matthew 03:13 Grace transforms a sinner 03:21 From tax collector to apostle and evangelist 03:40 The Feast of St. Matthew on Sunday 04:07 Why this painting matters to us 04:24 Christ calls us every day 04:39 “Come, follow Me” 04:49 Can I really become a saint? 04:53 Our past, attachments, and sins 05:14 “Do You still want me?” 05:23 Christ answers: “You must follow Me” 05:37 Our cowardice and fear of failure 06:07 Facing enemies greater than ourselves 06:22 “Yes, you—I have chosen you” 06:43 Following Christ in ordinary life 07:00 The time for delay is over 07:09 Catholics must do great things for God 07:25 Final blessing 07:43 Real Estate for Life https://www.youtube.com/@MyDearCatholicFriends https://www.fatherperricone.com/ #StMatthew #Caravaggio #CatholicHomily #CatholicFaith #FollowChrist #CatholicChurch #ChristianInspiration #GospelReflection #CatholicArt #ApostleMatthew 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴