Death And Legacy
Matt sets before
us a radical example which demonstrates that ordinary
people can do extraordinary things. His life is a
witness to the fact that people can by God's grace and
their own self acceptance say no to that which leads to
addiction or addictive behaviours and that in the
meantime our communities must never lose hope and must
continue to care for them.
Maybe it is because of this that so many have come to
love and admire Matt Talbot. Matt's friend Paddy Laird
always found it extraordinary that there were only seven
people at Matt's funeral, but upon making public his
life story hundreds of thousands have come to see him as
a hero and a beacon of hope.
People need heroes, not in the sense of comic book or
movie superheroes with superhuman powers, not pop stars
or celebrities all art and pizzazz but with little or no
moral substance. No what we need are ordinary people who
against extraordinary odds do the right thing, like
saying no to addiction or compulsion. Matt Talbot
understood this and he would say to others, "If I can do
it so can you with the grace of God".
Matt example has inspired many institutions, movements
and individuals around the world giving hope of recovery
to those who are willing to accept their weakness and
need. Such people stand as beacons in our world to the
truth that we can overcome addiction rise above our
weakness and achieve great things even sainthood.
Jesus said, "Come to me all you who labour and are
overburdened and I will give you rest shoulder my yoke
and learn from me for I am meek and humble of heart and
you will find rest for your souls" Matt 11:28-30. Matt
Talbot's life as a labourer who was overburdened by
addiction and guilt gradually grew in awareness through
the gift of grace and the Holy Spirit that a life of
meekness and humility of heart will lead to rest for our
souls, and towards a better world where all self
destructive drive will come to an end, where people will
live in