SATURDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

LORD THAT I MAY SEE.

Gospel

Luke 5:27-32

Jesus comes not to call the virtuous, but sinners to repentance

1.      Jesus noticed a tax collector,

2.      Levi by name, sitting by the customs house,

3.      and said to him, ‘Follow me.’

4.      And leaving everything he got up and followed him.

5.      In his honour Levi held a great reception in his house,

6.      and with them at table was a large gathering of tax collectors and others.

7.      The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples

8.      and said, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’

9.      Jesus said to them in reply,

10. ‘It is not those who are well who need the doctor, but the sick.

11. I have not come to call the virtuous,

12. but sinners to repentance.’

 

Jesus was looking for sinners – sinners in the eyes of God and sinners in the eyes of human beings too. He sees a sinner sitting with his money and he looks into the future at what he can become. And so, he calls him to be his friend and follower. Nobody else would, but Jesus did. He looks at me too with a longing love.  No one should fear that Jesus is not looking at them, that he despises them. He has come for the spiritually last and least and most abandoned.

Jesus calls this outcast. Calls to what? It is not primarily to physically follow him but to come close in love and affection. He wants him first to follow him by making him his beloved guru. He calls him to a new relationship of love and obedience. Just so, he calls me too. He calls you as well.

Blessed are we if, like Levi, we leave everything and follow him in our hearts. Like Levi, it will transform our lives. Jesus calls us to a life of love with him.

Levi responds to the respect, confidence and love shown by Jesus for him, who is despised by all others. He gives a great banquet to Jesus. He calls all his friends and colleagues. None of them are saints, all of them despised by the godly and respectable.

Jesus responds by joyfully going and being one with them. They have become his friends and he eats and drinks with them. We too should give him a great reception in our hearts. Let us open, then, our hearts to Jesus as Levi opened his. Jesus will certainly come in.  Others may think and say what they like, but my relationship with Jesus will transform my life.

Do you know that you are a sinner worthy of hell, then know that Jesus has come, in love and deep respect, for you. Lent is the opportunity to hear the call and respond.