Gospel: Mark 2:13-17
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.”
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Reflection:
Why did Jesus call Levi to follow Him notwithstanding his notorious reputation as a corrupt tax collector? This is for the reason that Jesus loves sinners. He walked on this earth primarily to save us sinners and to call us all to follow Him.
Jesus is pro-sinners and He loves sinners. He favors the sinners, He seeks the sinners and He doesn’t judge and discriminate the sinners. This is what happened to Levi or Matthew. Being a sinner Jesus went to Levi to express to him that He still loves him notwithstanding his many sins.
No matter how sinful we are, God is continuously calling us to conversion and to follow Him just like what He has done with Levi. He doesn’t judge us by our sins; He rather looks at our desire to leave behind our sinfulness. The moment we decide to leave our sinful ways we can always be assured of the Lord’s peace and abiding presence.
It is always us who creates detachment from Jesus and not Jesus detaching Himself from us. This occurs when we commit sins and continuously ignore Jesus’ call for repentance. Jesus is just a prayer away, ever ready to embrace us with His love and forgiveness the moment we decide to walk-away from our sinful ways.
Would you respond to Jesus’ call of
repentance? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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