“The Calling of Saint Matthew” was painted by the Italian artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio in 1600. It depicts Christ coming to the soon-to-be Saint Matthew, still named Levi at this time prior to his becoming an apostle, summoning the tax-collector to leave his colleagues and follow him to a life of piety and eternity. The light from the upper right corner, where presumably a window is located, makes the viewer’s eye focus on Levi, as he points to himself in surprise, silently questioning if Christ is indeed calling him specifically. The two figures to his left are too absorbed counting the day’s profit to even notice the arrival of the Messiah, symbolizing the lost opportunity to obtain eternal life through Him. Christ’s hand, reminiscent of Adam’s hand in Michelangelo’s “Creation of Adam,” bridges the dark abyss that separates Himself and Levi, physically and symbolically offering the path to eternal life and the chance at a new beginning. The light that illuminates Christ and Saint Peter next to him comes seemingly out of nowhere, and may be identified as miraculous. The painting illustrates a moment of suspense, before action has taken place, yet after Christ has made his silent declaration to Levi. It shows the human experience of uncertainty before one makes a decision, and communicates how spontaneous opportunities and nearly immediate choices can define one’s life.