Calling of Saint Matthew, Michaelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, 1599-1600. San Luigi dei Francesci, Rome, Italy.
Questions
-What is happening in this painting?
-Where is Jesus in this scene? Where is Saint Matthew?
-Do you like the style of this painting? Why or why not?
Reflection
Clink. Clink. Clink. The sound of my coins hit the bottom of the the money taker and then a few seconds later, the side chapel is lit up. The Calling of Saint Matthew is located in a side chapel in a small church in Rome. You can tell where it is because the rest of the church is empty, except for the one corner where this chapel is, where the crowds gather. To protect the paintings (and earn some money for the church) you must pay to light up the chapel. I have spent way too much money at this chapel, just admiring this painting and the magnificent talent of Caravaggio. In the side chapel, this painting is on the left side. On the back wall is another Caravaggio painting - The Inspiration of St. Matthew. The right wall is yet another Caravaggio - The Martyrdom of St. Matthew. But this painting draws the most of attention out of all three. Why? I ask this same question and I think the answer is this - that everyone can ask the same questions when looking at this painting.
Who are you calling? Me? Why me God?
I think that this is what was going through Matthew's mind when Jesus called out for him to follow him. I feel confident in this because these are the same questions that entered my mind when I felt called by the Lord to become Catholic. Converting to Catholicism was accompanied by several questions. Why me? Why do I have to change? What about me makes me special? Why not someone else? What does this mean for my life? This continual calling to conversion makes these questions come up still, even after five years of being Catholic. Sometimes I feel God gives me answers to these questions and sometimes it feels like I am asking them yet again. But throughout it all I think the answer from the Lord is simply because he loves me. He loves me and that is why He wants me to follow Him. He loves me and that is why He calls me to do the harder thing. He loves me and that is why He wants me to walk away from my past sins. He loves me and I love Him. That is why I must follow Him.
"As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him." -Matthew 9:9
Matthew heard the call and responded. While this painting does not show Matthew in a customs post, it shows that God can call in the strangest of places and the seemingly worst choices of people. Tax collectors were not popular by any means. The Romans who ruled the area at the time forced Jewish people to pay taxes. They employed Jewish people to collect taxes from their own people, and instead of giving them a wage, they made it so whatever extra money the tax collectors took, they got to keep. Matthew would have been considered a traitor to his people and someone unworthy to follow the Messiah. But yet, God called. Matthew accepted. How many times have I judged someone who has been called by Christ? Have I thought them unworthy or less genuine or not fully Christian because of who they were before their conversion? Have I felt unworthy to be called by Christ? That he made the wrong decision? These judgements on others and myself is a reflection of my own sinfulness and unworthiness. But despite all of that God still calls me and I must choose to accept. It is more about my identity in Christ than who I was before. It is always about the powerful response of our yes to allow God to radically change our life.
In the Gospel of Mark and Luke, they identify the tax collector called by Christ to be named Levi. This always seemed a bit confusing to me until I learned that Matthew means "Yahweh's gift". Jesus changed his name to reflect his conversion. When God renames there is a new mission, a new identity that is given. Levi is no longer the tax collector, but is a gift from God to Jesus as a devoted and loving follower. After Matthew is called, he had a great banquet for Christ at his home. The Pharisees and scribes (as well as probably some of Christ's own followers) questioned why Jesus ate and drank with the sinners and tax collectors. Jesus said in reply “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.” Luke 5:32. We are all sinners in need of repentance. In need of continual, deep conversion to the loving, perfect heart of Christ. We must rejoice as Matthew did that Christ calls us out of our sinful post, whatever that may be, to follow him. Matthew left the comfort of his luxurious life to have nothing but eternal life with God. He left being hated by the Jews because of his being a tax collector to being hated by the entire world because he followed the Savior of the world. What a gift we have to do the same.
Information
Christ is set in the right of this painting, obscured by Saint Peter. We can only see his face, with a bit of a halo above him and his arm outstretched. His outstretched arm reminds me of 'The Creation of Adam' by Michelangelo which was painted not even one hundred years before this painting. This composition shows how even when we get in the way of God's work, He will continue to call. Saint Peter was probably questioning Jesus' choice of Matthew and wanted Him to think again before He called. But Christ does not wait. Peter's questioning hand is unconfident, unsure while Christ stretches out his arm in surety. Christ knows Matthew's heart and potential, just as He knows ours.
So which man is Matthew in this painting? Welcome to one of the most contested things in art history. The ambiguity of who Matthew is in this painting is part of what makes it so enticing. There is varied response to Christ's call - withdrawal, disbelief, disinterest, wonder. This is part of what makes it so interesting, there is not an immediate 'yes' from any of the subjects in the painting. It is a stark difference from Our Lady, who said yes willingly and with great joy as soon as the angel announced the good news and invitation to be the Mother of God. But despite the initial reaction, it is a great reminder that any of them could be the disciple. A disciple simply someone has to be one who willingly gets up, gives up everything and follows Jesus. It could be the man who is pointing to the others, simply not believing that Christ could be calling him. He could also be pointing to himself in a questioning motion, unsure of if Jesus means him. He is not even looking at Jesus, not yet aware of the mighty and powerful call that Christ is inviting Matthew too. Or it could be the man at the end of the table, focused on the money. He has not even looked up and seen Jesus calling. It is the moment before the recognition of Christ's mighty and powerful invitation, before his life changes forever.
A theory that I hold is that all five men in this painting are Matthew, just at different stages of his life. Christ continually calls us when we are young and old. Whether it is the call of the natural law in our hearts as a child or a direct invitation in prayer or yet again another conversion back to his way. The young Matthew was called to be a tax collector which would lead him to meeting Christ as a man. Then as he is older he is called again to Christ in writing what would become the Gospel of Matthew. The beauty of this piece in art history is that you can hold whatever you think is right about who Matthew is.
This piece really is so interesting that there is so much empty space at the top of the painting and so much darkness. This is characteristic of Caravaggio and the Baroque style in general. The light pours from an unknown source, over Christ's head onto the men at the table. It is like God himself is showing His choice of Jesus' disciples and is ordaining the choice that is being made. To be chosen by God is to accept the gift of His Spirit, His knowledge, and the great bounty of good things that He wants to give.
Another aspect of Baroque art is the drama of it all. There is this tension that we can just sense, that it is the very moment just before a life-changing, transformational event. This tension pulls the viewer in and helps to imagine what our reaction would have been and where we would be in this painting. Although this painting is set up high in a side chapel the figures are so large that they seem incredibly close. There is even space at the table for us to join them. This style of art breaks down the distance and separation between us and the scene in the painting.
There is an intense naturalism, like these people could really exist. This is partially because Caravaggio would pull people off the street as his models. But also, I think it helped the everyday person to be able to see themselves in the divine, in the holy. Caravaggio lived in the same century as the Reformation began. There were so many people who were struggling with the Catholic Church and only saw the brokenness and sinfulness of the Church. Baroque art aided in the Counter-Reformation also known as the Restoration of the Catholic Church. Showing imperfect people, everyday people as the greatest of saints and holy people helped others to see that as a possibility for themselves.
More Questions
-Have you heard the Lord's call to leave everything and follow Him?
-What was your response to the Lord's call? Disbelief, disinterest, ignoring him, anger, wonder?
-How is the Lord calling you to deeper conversion of your heart, mind and life?
-Who do you think Saint Matthew is?
-How have you gotten in the way of the Lord lately? In what way can you let the Lord work more freely in your life?
Let us pray -
O Divine Physician, be gentle with your children as we work through our own disbelief, disinterest, anger, confusion and sinfulness. Please be patient with us when you call us to radically leave everything and follow you. Thank you for the graces that you have given us even when we have not responded well to you. Open our ears and eyes so that we may hear your call and see the magnificent gifts you have given us. May we be like Saint Matthew and not worry about what or who we are leaving and focus only on you.
St. Matthew, pray for us!
Amen.
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