The Gospel of Matthew: A Spiritual and Pastoral Reading

by Pope Francis

In these heart-stirring reflections by Pope Francis, readers will meet Jesus and discover hidden treasure in the individual lines and words of Matthew’s Gospel. Not intended for study or preaching, these pages simply allow us to be guided by Pope Francis, a master of prayerful silence, so that we may embrace a simple and living intimacy with Jesus, the Word made flesh.

Genres: Religion

274 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 19, 2020

About the author

Pope Francis (Latin: Franciscus; Italian: Francesco; Spanish: Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) was the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, a title he held ex officio as Bishop of Rome, and Sovereign of the Vatican City. He chose Francis as his papal name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Francis was the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere and the first non-European pope since the Syrian Gregory III, who died in 741.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Bergoglio worked briefly as a chemical technologist and nightclub bouncer before beginning seminary studies. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969 and from 1973 to 1979 was Argentina's provincial superior of the Society of Jesus. He was accused of handing two priests to the National Reorganization Process during the Dirty War, but the lawsuit was ultimately dismissed. He became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was created a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. He led the Argentine Church during the December 2001 riots in Argentina, and the administrations of Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner considered him a political rival. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on 28 February 2013, a papal conclave elected Bergoglio as his successor on 13 March.

Throughout his public life, Pope Francis had been noted for his humility, emphasis on God's mercy, concern for the poor, and commitment to interfaith dialogue. He was credited with having a humble, less formal approach to the papacy than his predecessors, for instance choosing to reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse rather than in the papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace used by his predecessors. In addition, due to both his Jesuit and Ignatian aesthetic, he was known for favoring simpler vestments void of ornamentation, including refusing the traditional papal mozzetta cape upon his election, choosing silver instead of gold for his piscatory ring, and keeping the same pectoral cross he had as Cardinal. He maintained that the church should be more open and welcoming. He did not support unbridled capitalism, Marxism, or Marxist versions of liberation theology. Francis maintained the traditional views of the church regarding abortion, euthanasia, contraception, homosexuality, ordination of women, and priestly celibacy. He opposed consumerism, irresponsible development, and supported taking action on climate change, a focus of his papacy with the promulgation of Laudato si'. In international diplomacy, he helped to restore full diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba.

Reviews

[7jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the Mark one first, then realised this one was also out there, so into that now…
This is also a collection of reflections from various sources (listed at the end) and occasions, on this Gospel, arranged in chapter order, from Jesus’ origins to the Resurrection.

There are many things in this book that stood out, and I did manage to gain some notes for myself to think about, not just what I could use to write this review. I mainly have listed some subjects that have come up as I read the book:
that Jesus made a journey in human history (his life here), and afterwards walk with us in life
to have compassion and emotions for others suffering, prayer as a rest in the Lord, that even good Christians need to keep on improving themselves, that I realised his beautitudes’ part about the ‘poor in spirit’ made me think about minimalism, the importance of forgiving, what ‘treasure’ to accumulate, that those who ‘build the house on rock’ are Christians who besides believing also practice their faith, the importance of mercy with compassion, feeding the crowds, forgiveness of God and ours, avoiding rigidity, having a heart that is contrite and open to the Lord, actively waiting for the Lord, how we should use our time (activity, not withdrawal, to be fruitful).

And the best part was the chapter on Resurrection; all the good side of it, and the ending with a talk on the mission of all Christians to the world. Left me feeling inspired, and comforted, and hopeful about the future. Just as lovely a read as the one on the Gospel of Mark.

[Robert D. Cornwall · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gospel of Matthew reveals a Jesus who is deeply rooted in Judaism, but not afraid to challenge the way it is practiced. it offers us powerful visions of the Christian faith the Sermon on the Mount and in the parables of Jesus, especially the parable of the Last Judgment. There are many excellent commentaries, some deeply exegetical and others deeply theological. I look to them in my own preaching. This book is not a commentary. It is, as the subtitle suggests, "a spiritual and pastoral reading." But, that is often what we need as we encounter Scripture.

The verdict on Pope Francis' papacy is mixed. For some, like me, he is a breath of fresh air, a church leader who isn't afraid to ruffle feathers. I might not agree on every matter, but I find him to be a deeply spiritual and caring person. In other words, his a good witness for the faith. That means I approach this reading of Matthew in the recognition that the author is a deeply spiritual man.

This isn't a commentary nor is it a book written for this purpose by Francis. Instead, it is an attempt to bring together texts written by the Pope that address the Gospel. Sometimes the comments have an exegetical dimension, and at other times there is a degree of distance between the passage and the comments printed. For the most part, however, the editors have done an excellent job of piecing together a coherent exploration of this Gospel. Most importantly this reading is pastoral, which is a reflection of Francis' own demeanor.

As you read through these reflections you will see Francis' deep spirituality, his pastoral intent, and his commitment to justice. It also reflects his evangelical inclinations, and by that, I mean his desire to proclaim the good news of Jesus. As the author of the introduction to the book notes, the book is intended to draw the reader "closer to Jesus and to discover the hidden treasure in the words of the Gospel, words that can make the heart burn again today" (pp. xi-xii).

It would be difficult to speak to the flow of the book or to direct it. You must simply take it and read it for what it is. You will be drawn to Matthew's text, but more importantly into Jesus. You will also gain insight into Francis' own spiritual identity, and you will gain a new understanding of the word present in the Gospel, From that comes a calling, as Francis reveals in the closing paragraph, which reflects on Matthew 28:19: "Every Christian is challenged, here and now, to be actively engaged in evangelization; indeed, anyone who has truly experienced God's saving love does not need much time or lengthy training to go out and proclaim that love." Yes, "every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Crist Jesus" 9p. 243). That is Francis.