Gospel: Luke 5:27-32
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.”
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Reflection:
There is a story of a sinner who wanted to change his ways. So he
gathered enough courage and presented himself to his parents to ask for
forgiveness. But the parents did not forgive him they instead condemned him as
good for nothing and useless.
In the days that followed they received a call that their son ended his
life. If only they were not judgmental they could have saved a life and became
an instrument of conversion. But they choose not to forgive.
How do you treat sinners? Are you quick to condemn them for who they
are? Or you are patient with them and even build bridges with them so that they
would also feel the love and forgiveness of Jesus?
When we judge sinners we also immediately cut-off the chance for us to
be an instrument of their healing and conversion. We are also pushing them
deeper into the mud of sin. But why are we judgmental when we are sinners as
well? Why are we judgmental when we are not perfect, when we too are subject to
judgment?
When Jesus saw the tax collector named Levi who was labelled as a sinner
by those who knew him. Jesus never condemned the tax collector He instead asked
Levi to follow Him and this sinner left everything to follow Jesus. We see the
redemptive result when we don’t judge and condemn.
In the heart of every sinner rest a sacred place that is reserved for
someone who will not judge them. A sacred place exclusively for those who would
be willing to forgive them and help them get up and start a new life with
Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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