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Saturday, January 18, 2025

Heb 4:12-16; Mk 2:13-17

Today’s Gospel highlights the call of Levi, who becomes Matthew later. 

In calling Levi, Jesus already proclaims the nature and content of God’s inclusive Kingdom.

By what Jesus chose to overlook regarding those who bore the label of ‘sinners,’ he represents a God who is loving, merciful, and forgiving. 

Jesus did not have problems with a tax collector becoming his apostle. 

Jesus disregarded his questionable past, which others viewed with suspicion. 

The fact that a tax collector like Levi was suspected of financial dishonesty, or that he was a toll collector in the service of Herod Antipas, or that he was disloyal to the Jewish cause did not bother Jesus in any way. 

Jesus manifests a right understanding toward those who were branded as sinners because it was either their occupation or lifestyle that prevented them from full observance of the Jewish law. 

When Jesus disregards their past, his call to repentance reveals a positive affirmation of human goodness. It is with this generous attitude that Jesus regards them as his future ministers. 

Those who receive the call from Jesus respond to it with all enthusiasm. Their willingness to embrace Jesus’ call shows that they were waiting for an opportunity to prove themselves right if they were given a second chance. But the society that was too busy accusing them could only pass a harsh judgement on them. When they sense that Jesus’ call flowed out an unconditional love, they grab it with hope and trust. 

It is one thing to vilify others as sinners and quite another to help them reclaim their dignity as people with a moral sense. 

When the Pharisees looked at sinners as a societal problem, Jesus looked for an alternative to change their lives. 

The Pharisees were interested in their past to prove how sinful they were. But Jesus envisions their future to show how saintly they could become. 

Let us pray that we may inherit the uniqueness of Jesus to make our mission more inclusive and loving. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar