MEMORIAL ST ANTHONY, SATURDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, JANUARY 17, 2026
- Olivia M. Bannan
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Gospel
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
'I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
Do we enjoy the company of a thief and cheat? Do we dine with them, have a relationship? I doubt we would associate with Levi for these same reasons. We might be afraid of the influence he might have on us, the gossip generated and loss of our reputation as people notice who we hang around with or perhaps we conclude we cannot help them, giving up before even trying.
Not liked, actually hated, by the Jewish community, Levi was an outcast. Tax collectors were notorious for skimming off the tops, padding their own pockets with hard earned money of their country men. He colluded with the enemy, the Romans.
Jesus noticed him, knew who he was and invited him by saying, "Follow me".
God's grace abounds. Seeing Levi as His lost child, only He has the power to transform him. Through sheer unmerited grace, Levi leaves all and follows Him. We know the rest of the story: his name is changed to Matthew, he never goes back to sin and his soul is saved. Jesus, as the good physician, never gives up, healing and redeeming. He will look for you, find you and bring you back to Him. Levi's/Matthew's story is one of faith and redemption.
Do we see people the same way He sees us? Looking past our failures, sins, and lapses, He sees us through the lenses of love and grace. Jesus is calling us to leave our past behind and follow Him.
Dear Jesus may your mercy transform my life and the lives of my family.
God Bless You.
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