The Call of Levi

Today's Reflections

                                                         

The Call of Levi

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Lk 5:27-32

27[Jesus] went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” 28And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. 29Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. 30The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. 32I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”

Reflection:

Jesus has come to call sinners. The punch line of this passage is Jesus’ statement: “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.”

This should be good news for us, because we are all sinners. Both our experience and the Scriptures testify to this (1 Jn 1:8-10). Jesus comes to save sinners, not to condemn them (Jn 3:17). Our sins should not prevent us from coming to Jesus. They are rather the very reasons why we should come to Jesus. The example of Levi, a tax collector (and hence, a sinner in the eyes of many righteous Jews), should encourage us. Jesus calls even him to be one of his apostles.

Experience the joy of being welcomed by Jesus

through your Lenten confession.