Well, let me start by saying that the book of Matthew is not exactly a romp in a movie set like “The Da Vinci Code”. But, let me tell you, its story is a real rollercoaster ride!
So, Matthew was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, and his Gospel narrative is all about the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The story is set in the first-century Jewish world, and it starts with Jesus being born in Bethlehem and being visited by wise men from the East. Talk about an auspicious start!
As Jesus grows up, he is baptized by John the Baptist, and the Holy Spirit descends on him like a dove. Then Jesus goes into the wilderness, where he is tempted by the devil for forty days and nights. Talk about a stressful situation! Afterward, Jesus sets out on his ministry, teaching, healing, and performing miracles throughout Galilee and beyond.
The story of the book of Matthew has some famous moments that you might have heard of, including the Sermon on the Mount, when Jesus delivers his famous sayings like “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” – now, that’s a message that resonates with my heart. Then there’s the feeding of the 5,000, which is one of the most epic miracle narratives in the Christian tradition. After all that, Jesus rides triumphantly into Jerusalem on a donkey, with people waving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna!”.
But, as we all know, things take a turn when the religious leaders of the time start opposing Jesus and his teachings. Eventually, Judas betrays him, and he is handed over to the Roman authorities to be crucified. The book of Matthew narrates the trial, crucifixion, and burial of Jesus, as well as his glorious resurrection, and the Great Commission to his disciples to go out to all nations proclaiming the Good News.
What’s amazing about this story is that, in spite of all the odds, Jesus Christ’s teachings continue to inspire and transform people across the world today. And, as one of my favorite sayings goes, “Faith is knowing that every sunrise is a promise of a new beginning”.
So, my friends, let us all keep believing and striving for a better tomorrow. Because, as someone else once said, “It’s never too late to be who you might have been”.
And, as for me, Tom Hanks, well…I guess, as Forrest Gump so famously put it: “That’s all I have to say about that”.
