MY daily reflection and prayer:
Saturday, January 16, 2016
The First Week in Ordinary Time
Dear my friends,
Here is the Gospel for us today according to St. Mark 2:13-17
He went out again beside the sea; and all the crowd gathered about him, and he taught them. And as he passed on, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as he sat at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were sitting with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
***
THE Gospel today tells us that many tax collectors and sinners people were drawn to Jesus. They were the unwanted and the unlovable, but Jesus loved them all. One of them was Levi, sitting at the tax office, who was also named Matthew (see Matthew 9:9)
In calling Levi to be one of his disciples, Jesus presented the face of God’s mercy. Passing by the tax collector’s office, Jesus looked intently at Levi the son of Alphaeus. It was a look full of mercy that forgave his sins, a sinner and a tax collector, whom Jesus chose to become one of the Twelve.
In the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist, we worship Jesus Christ who looks upon us with merciful love and chooses us as his followers. He reveals God as a Father who never gives up until he has forgiven us with his merciful love.
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus Christ, you choose Levi a sinner to be one of your disciples. You say that you came not to call the righteous, but to call sinners. Thank you for the great kindness and mercy you have shown to each of us. May we proclaim this joy to others now and forever. Amen.
Kredit foto: Ilustrasi (Ist)
