Gospel: Mark 2:13-17
Jesus went out along the sea.
All the crowd came to him and he taught them.
As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus,
sitting at the customs post.
Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
And he got up and followed Jesus.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples;
for there were many who followed him.
Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners
and tax collectors and said to his disciples,
“Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus heard this and said to them,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
The Mass intention is for Nichole Bartlett RIP.
Reflection:
Levi, like the leper in one of our Gospels this week, was another outcast in his society. By working as a tax collector for the Roman occupiers and, for being corrupt, his contemporaries hated him. Surprisingly, Jesus told Levi to follow Him. Just two words – “Follow me” – and Levi left the customs post. What could have moved Levi to follow the Lord? Perhaps, he could not find true happiness in his work and wealth. By hearing the Lord’s voice, he recognized what he was looking for. For the self-righteous Pharisees this was odd. They must have thought, “Why Levi? Why not me? I do X,Y,Z while Levi doesn’t!”. The Pharisees were later scandalized when Jesus dined with tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees did not get the purpose of Jesus’ coming. Like a doctor who must look after the sick, Jesus came to bring back sinners to His fold. Unless we accept that we are ill, the doctor cannot help us. Unless we see ourselves as sinners in need of Divine Mercy, we will not be able to follow Jesus like Levi. Let the Word of God reconcile us with God!
- How does the Word of God change you for the better?
- How do you deal with obstacles that prevent the Word of God from bearing fruit in your life?
- How do deal with people who are living in sin?
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word today. Show us Your Mercy that we sinners would leave our old ways and follow You. Amen.
