Readings: Isaiah 58:9-14, Psalm 85:1-6, Luke 5:27-32
In today’s Gospel we have an account of the call and response of Levi the tax collector. In Jesus’ time, being a tax collector was not a popular occupation. Those tax payers amongst us might sympathise – a letter from the tax office is rarely greeted with joy! Yet amongst the Jews the poor tax collectors were really treated as outsiders. The taxes were demanded by the Roman occupiers, which made the tax collectors traitors. Corruption was widespread, even encouraged by the occupiers. But most scandalous of all, especially for the Pharisees, was the fact that tax collectors had dealings with Gentiles in the course of their work. Because of this contact with those who were not observers of Pharisaic laws, the tax collectors were deemed to be ritually impure, outcasts.How shocking then, that Jesus should be associated with Levi, and even more shocking that he should be seen dining with a whole group of similarly ‘unclean’ people, engaging in an act which symbolised friendship and acceptance – friendship with and acceptance of the untouchables. By doing this, Jesus breaks down the barriers between the Jews and the Gentiles. The boundaries are now marked in a new way, so as to gather in all those who are in need of his mercy, of his compassion and healing – people just like us. Levi’s response to the call, immediately leaving everything to follow Jesus, brought him within this new boundary. By humbly acknowledging our faults before God in prayer and in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we recognise our need for his grace and mercy. Then like Levi we open ourselves up, allowing ourselves to become the kind of people who can receive God’s healing, able to freely respond to the call to discipleship.
Good news indeed!
This is a wonderful post on a lovely reading. I love the readings that show mercy and forgiveness. I hope all in our faith and hierarchy hear this message. It seems as if we have become the Pharisees, pointing out what is wrong with each other and not focusing on God’s openness to all. I am concerned that the Church has become associated with consequences or retribution, and not love and forgiveness. It appears, but I don’t think it is always true, that we exclude from church those who the majority think are in a state of sin - as if we all don’t sin. Should those who chose to live a lifestyle of luxury and abundance while sharing little with their less fortunate neighbor pass judgment on the gay couple who struggle to love in the way they believe they should and still want to stay within the church? Would Christ embrace the young woman who made the mistake of aborting a child or would He comfort her and open to her His grace, if she chooses to accept it, or simply condemn? I hope the answer is in Peter, Christ’s gift to us. One who is so human, who in weakness denies the God with whom he walked, his friend. Who unlike Judas knew God’s unrelenting desire to love and forgive, not condemn and punish. God accepted Peter’s grief – my hope is that we never lose sight of this openness to all.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much.
ReplyDeleteyour post helped me so much with my assignment at school because my assignment is about that.
thank you.