The Holy Spirit cast a wide net in choosing the human authors of the New Testament. Last year, we read the Gospel of St Luke at Sunday Mass. Although he may have traveled with St Paul for some time, he was basically an historian and wrote accordingly. Paul himself who we read today and indeed many Sundays of the year, was a missionary and his writings reflect these concerns. Matthew who is the Evangelist for this year’s readings in Ordinary Time is a Pastor and, in many ways, the most appropriate guide for this time and place.
He was the leader or at least a leader in a divided community in the first century middle east. The founding members of it were born Jews but in time Gentiles entered the community. There were tensions. All accepted Jesus as the means to salvation but some wanted to keep more Jewish attitudes and customs than others. As these are human beings there were no doubt other conflicts. The founders vs the newer members of the community and the rich vs the poor to name just two. Matthew acknowledges these divisions and his first and most important responsibility is to bring the people together.
This is a common theme in his Gospel, and we see it plainly today.
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