Webcasts

Saint Michael and All Angels

Saint Matthew

Saint Matthew is famous as having been called by Jesus from, in the words of the old Prayer Book, ‚Äúthe receipt of custom,‚Äù to follow Jesus and be an apostle and evangelist. In other words, Matthew was a tax collector. Tax collectors were viewed by Matthew’s fellow Jews as collaborators with the Roman State who made their living by taking money from their own people for the hated overlords and often enriched themselves in so doing. Devout Pharisees refused to marry into a family that had a member who was a tax collector, a ‚Äúpublican.‚Äù When Matthew held a dinner party for his fellow publicans and invited Jesus to attend (which he did), the Pharisees sharply criticized Jesus for keeping bad company. Jesus’ reply was that he came not to call the righteous but sinners.

The biblical scholars note that Saint Matthew’s Gospel is especially remarkable for its ‚Äúsayings of Jesus.‚Äù While his Gospel, with important differences, largely follows the structure of the Gospels of Mark and Luke, Matthew is especially cherished for his record, among other sayings, of the Sermon on the Mount.

Learn more about Matthew from the Rector, in his weekly audio message.

Holy Cross Day

Holy Cross Day became a feast of the Episcopal Church’s Book of Common Prayer in 1979, but the observance began in Jerusalem on September 14, 335 when the first Christian Roman Emperor, Constantine, built Churches to enshrine the traditional sites of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial and resurrection. Excavations at the time discovered a relic, believed to be that of the true cross. Much of our cherished Holy Week liturgies stems from that period, spreading around Christendom through the ages. The crucifix near the pulpit, our 9/11 memorial, is mounted on a cross of stones which were from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

Saint Thomas Church was founded to set forth, through preaching and teaching, through architecture, liturgy and music, through fellowship and service, the glory of the Cross of Christ. On the top of the Fifth Avenue fa√ßade is a crucifix, with the words, ‚ÄúThou art the King of Glory, O Christ.‚Äù And so it is that this Church is a place where many souls are drawn to the foot of the Cross: this deepest mystery, and clearest manifestation, of God’s everlasting love.