Before Jesus called Matthew as one of His twelve disciples, he was a tax collector, in his time seen as the worst of sinners. But through God’s great love and mercy, this sinner also became a saint, the author of the first book of the New Testament, and a gift from the Lord to His Church.
“As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he rose and followed him.
“And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ But when he heard it, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.'” Matthew 9:9-13