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.”
LEVI GAVE A GREAT BANQUET. Levi
may not be an ordinary tax collector hired by someone who has bought
the rights for collecting taxes from Herod Antipas, the ruler of
Galilee. He can very well be a chief tax collector because he can afford
to give a big banquet as his despedida party to which a large
crowd of tax collectors are invited. Hence, Levi is a “big sinner” in
the eyes of the Pharisees who accuse tax collectors of being traitors to
the people and the Law of Moses. Jesus defends Levi by declaring that
he has come to call to repentance not the righteous but sinners.
Levi
will prove that Jesus’ confidence in him is not misplaced. A big
sinner, he will become a great saint, better known as Matthew the
apostle.
When
we compare ourselves to others, we easily forget we are sinners, and we
may end up feeling self-righteous, claiming we are by far better than
others. But if the loving God is our starting point, then we can see our
wretchedness and our need of divine mercy. An honest examination of
conscience will allow us to look at our life under the gaze of the
compassionate God. We will realize our constant need of repentance.
Are you easily taken by the bad things other people do?
Do you find time to look into your heart,
discover your own sins,
and ask for divine compassion?
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