That's the life Matthew lived—rejected by his people, rejected by his faith, rejected by his God. And then Jesus comes along and says, "Hey, tax collector! Follow me!" We see in the verses that follow ...

Matthew, Mark and Luke emphasize Jesus’ face at the Transfiguration — “his face shone like the sun.” And Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:6, that God brings to light “the knowledge of the ...

Today’s Gospel comes in two sizes: the short version (Matthew 4:12-17) and the long version (Matthew 4:12-23). I strongly encourage priests to add the extra 45 seconds and use the long version.