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Olivia M. Bannan

SATURDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME JANUARY 18, 2020


A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 2:13-17

Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed Jesus. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. 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.”

REFLECTION: “Follow me.”

Do you remember when Jesus said to you “Follow me”?

I don’t know prior to 2017 what The Holy Spirit was trying to tell me. My prayer life consisted of praying for me. Please, I want to go to the prom and that evening there was an invite. I want to marry a man like my dad and there was my “husband to be” stepping on to the bus of our young adult group trip to Delta Downs. Please, help me in my studies, applications etc. All my life was like that —pray and get.

Life as I lived it was sweet. Then in 2003, it became very complicated and all my prayers were not helping; with no guidance I was a lost soul. I had never developed a relationship with God — I knew my prayers, I knew the rules and I knew happiness.

I truly believed God had abandoned me. There had to be a “Dear Jane” letter somewhere that I had not yet read. My life would never be the same.

Fast forward to 2017 — during the priest’s sermon, while looking at me, he said these words, “Your sins put me there (pointing at the cross)”. And that is when my “Follow me” moment happened.

Matthew or Levi was not well liked. In fact, he was most likely hated for working with the Romans as well as for cheating the Jews. He had all he materially needed. Yet, something was missing. He quickly left his post upon hearing, “Follow me”.

We are all sinners and, unfortunately, will continue to be sinners. But with God's love, compassion, mercy and with our own true repentance, we can be forgiven of our sins.

We can become the great people God wants us to be.

Matthew sinned after his conversion and even abandoned Christ on the cross. Yet, Jesus continued to pursue him; Matthew became a great writer, missionary, martyr and saint.

Are we ready for the challenge? Are we ready to follow Jesus Christ and play a great and unique part in His salvific plan? Are we ready to be saved and share the good news?

God bless


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