Lenten Pilgrimage: Feb. 21, 2015 Saturday after Ash Wednesday
A Lenten Pilgrimage
Saturday after Ash Wednesday
Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them.
The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying,
“Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.” (Luke 5:27-32)
Levi, the tax collector, was despised by his fellow Galileans, rejected by his synagogue, and shunned by his family. Yet when Jesus encounters him, he calls him to follow him…and Levi leaves everything behind and follows. The gospel text reminds us that the Word of God is not just for those who believe and live their lives in accordance with his wishes for they are not in need of conversion. His Word is for all people and particularly for those who are not living a life worthy of him – and he is the judge of what is worthy of him. Conversion is a movement toward love, a renewed personal intimacy and friendship with God. Conversion celebrates the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, life over death.
Saturday after Ash Wednesday
Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them.
The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying,
“Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.” (Luke 5:27-32)
Levi, the tax collector, was despised by his fellow Galileans, rejected by his synagogue, and shunned by his family. Yet when Jesus encounters him, he calls him to follow him…and Levi leaves everything behind and follows. The gospel text reminds us that the Word of God is not just for those who believe and live their lives in accordance with his wishes for they are not in need of conversion. His Word is for all people and particularly for those who are not living a life worthy of him – and he is the judge of what is worthy of him. Conversion is a movement toward love, a renewed personal intimacy and friendship with God. Conversion celebrates the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, life over death.
