Matthew was a tax collector in the city of Capernaum, where Jesus was living. He was a Jew but he was working for the Romans, who had conquered the Jews. For this reason, his countrymen disliked him. They would not have anything to do with these “public sinners,” as tax collectors like Matthew were called. But Jesus did not feel that way about Matthew. One day, Jesus saw Matthew sitting in his office and he said, “Follow me.” At once, Matthew left his money and his position to follow Jesus. He seemed so holy and king-like. Matthew gave a big supper for Jesus. He invited other friends like himself to meet Jesus and listen to him teach. Some people found fault with Jesus for sharing a meal with those whom they considered sinners. However, Jesus had a ready answer. “They who are well do not need a doctor; the sick do. I have not come to call the just, but sinners to repentance.” When Jesus went back to heaven, St. Matthew stayed in Palestine. He remained there for some time to preach about the Lord. We are familiar with the Gospel of Matthew, which is the story of Jesus and what he taught. St. Matthew presents Jesus to his own people. The Lord is the Messiah whom the prophets had said would come to save us. After preaching the Gospel to many people, St. Matthew ended his life as a glorious martyr for the faith. 

“You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

- Matthew 5:48

Good and gracious God, give me the strength to persevere every day in my faith, so that I will not become discouraged when life“s troubles keep pounding on my door. Give me courage to embrace whatever comes my way and to recognize that you do not place on my own fragile shoulders any task that I cannot bear.

- from Saint Paul: Called to Conversion

A Catholic-run girls’ school in Pakistan’s North-West Frontier province has reopened after a weeklong closure prompted by threats from Islamic militants.

While the girls’ school was closed, a bomb exploded in another Catholic school in the province.

The Public High School for Girls in Swat reopened on September 17, after a letter warned the Apostolic Carmelite Sisters running the school to close the “factory of Christians” or face suicide attacks.

When the school reopened, seven police officers were deployed to guard it as about half of its 950 students showed up for class. All but three of the school’s teachers are women.

The group Jan Nisaran-e-Islam sent the letter to the Swat Press Club, and local newspapers published it on September 9. The letter accused the nuns of converting the mostly Muslim students to Christianity and involving them in illicit activities.

The two-page letter accused “insolent Muslims” of sending their daughters to the school to make them foreigners. It said the nuns take the girls to a Church behind the school office at night and teach them to pray in “their own fashion.”

It said the nuns involve the girls in adultery, and the girls wear only “a two-inch sash.” It alleged the girls are made “accomplices in Internet chatting” and are compelled to watch nude pictures under the “veil of computer classes”.

The letter demanded the expulsion of Christian and male staff and insisted on the burqa, clothing covering the whole body except the eyes and hands, as the school uniform.

Bishop Anthony Lobo of Islamabad-Rawalpindi said that when he met with the Swat district co-ordination officer, he demanded protection for the convent and the school. Bishop Lobo said the threat was an effort to seize control of the school.

“It seems that Islamists are trying to drive away the nuns,” but such threats have not targeted just the Catholic school, the bishop said.

“This is not Islamisation but extremism in the name of religion,” he added.

- Courtesy of The Universe

My youngest sister Belle is blogging ! She’s mom to 3 year old Raffy, is interested in everything Catholic and a Mathematics graduate major in computer science . Visit her Catholic blog at http://pinoycatholics.blogspot.com.