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| "The Calling of Saint Matthew" (known as Levi), by J. Tissot. Brooklyn Museum / Public Domain |
On the Gospel for Mass on Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 2:13-17
Twice in the Christmas season that is not yet a week behind
us, the Gospel at Mass was of the Word being God and dwelling among us.
In today’s Gospel we saw the Word come to Levi: Follow me.
The Word split Levi’s life in two, parting Levi the collector of taxes from Levi the follower of the Word.
Our heavenly Father
is always sending his Word to us in
the power of the Spirit.
Yet he does not come to overpower us.
Rather, he waits for us to choose freely, just as Levi chose
freely to get up and follow.
The Word was made flesh in the power of the Spirit to dwell
among us.
He waits for us to choose freely to answer as Mary did: Behold the servant of the Lord— be it done
unto me according to your Word.
In just that way, the Word is made flesh and blood in our
flesh and blood, and dwells in our flesh and blood.
He comes to eat with us sinners here and now in his
Eucharistic Body and Blood, even as he once came to the house of Levi the tax
collector.
Why does he eat with
tax collectors and sinners?
He said:
Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.He is here not because we are righteous, but because we are sinners.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.
He is calling us, not because we are righteous, but because
we are sinners.
The choice to acknowledge we are sinners and to follow him freely
is ours here at this hour and in every place and moment of our lives.
Turn. Love. Repeat.
