Gospel in Art: Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle & Evangelist

The Calling of Saint Matthew, by Hendrick ter Brugghen 1621 © Centraal Museum, Utrecht

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 21 September 2024
Matthew 9:9-13

As Jesus was walking on, he saw a man named Matthew sitting by the customs house, and he said to him, 'Follow me.' And he got up and followed him.

While he was at dinner in the house it happened that a number of tax collectors and sinners came to sit at the table with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, 'Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?'

When he heard this he replied, 'It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick.

Go and learn the meaning of the words: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice. And indeed I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.'

Reflection on the painting

Today, we celebrate the Feast of Saint Matthew, a day that reminds us of God's transformative power. Matthew, a tax collector, was called by Jesus to follow Him, proving that no one is beyond the reach of grace. Tax collectors in Jesus' time were viewed with disdain, known for their dishonesty and greed. They collected more than what was required by Roman authorities and pocketed the excess for themselves, making them notorious collaborators with the oppressors. To call someone like Matthew was a bold move.

Yet, it is precisely this tax collector who responds to Jesus with immediate and radical faith. Without hesitation, Matthew leaves behind his lucrative job and becomes one of Jesus' closest disciples. His response is a testament to the fact that Jesus came for all-not just the righteous, but the sinners, the outcasts, and the forgotten. In Matthew, we see that God's call can transform anyone who is willing to respond.

This moment of transformation is beautifully captured in Hendrick ter Brugghen's 1621 painting The Calling of Saint Matthew. Ter Brugghen, who had been inspired by Caravaggio's masterpiece of the same subject in Rome, became one of the leading Northern artists painting in Caravaggio's style. His work is characterised by realistic facial expressions and the use of half-length figures, drawing viewers into the intimate moment of Matthew's call. However, unlike Caravaggio's signature use of dramatic contrasts between light and shadow, Ter Brugghen softens the scene with gentle tonalities of blues, pinks, and violets. These colours emphasize the joy and grace present in moments of conversion and revelation.

At the centre of the painting is Matthew, gesturing toward himself with a look of astonishment-"Are you calling me?" His disbelief and wonder mirror our own when we realize that God calls each of us, regardless of our past. To the left, Christ and one of his disciples stand in shadow, their presence quiet but powerful. The true contrast, however, comes from the figure of a soldier seated at the table, fixated on the money in front of him. Dressed in partial armor, his clenched hands and grinding teeth reveal his greed. Oblivious to the divine call happening in his midst, he represents those whose hearts are hardened (hence the metal armour) by material concerns, blind to the grace being offered.

On the table before Matthew, his ink, pen, and paper lie ready-tools he once used to record taxes for personal gain, but now will serve a higher purpose as he prepares to write the Gospel that will proclaim the Good News to the world.

Saint Matthew, pray for us.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-9-9-13-2024-2/