THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Saturday in the First week in Ordinary time, 2022

1Sam 9:1-4, 17-19, 10:1

Ps 21

Mark 2:13-17

I came to call sinners

Dear friends in Christ, left to mere mortals, the doors of heaven would have been shut completely to most people. Salvation would have been more difficult than even God would have made it. Sinful humanity makes rules and complicates God’s commands more than necessary, thereby setting the bars too high for anyone including itself to attain.

The journey of Jesus to save the lost in today’s Gospel (Mark 2:13-17), took him to the tax office, where he saw Levi (Matthew), the son of Alphaeus, and called him. Matthew left his lucrative job and followed Jesus. He freed Matthew from being enslaved by money. Money is good, money is necessary, but the search for it, has led many into slavery and sin. Some people kill, destroy others, defraud, embezzle, misappropriate funds, to have money. Some seek to get rich with a false opinion that, “money brings happiness.” Such people make money from crooked means, only to realise that money is not equal to happiness. In the time of Jesus tax collection was farmed out to the collectors, who often collected more than required, and thereby angered the people. Many Jews believed that anyone collecting tax, puts himself in the place of God and thereby commits sin. For Jesus to sit with sinners and Tax Collectors at dinner therefore, must have surprised the scribes and Pharisees who questioned his disciples concerning this.

Jesus responded 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 amazing grace. The Pharisees were more interested in the purest of the society, even though it was basically the external observance of the law. Jesus however was more interested in bringing back to the fold, the lost sheep. The same thing, he expects of his disciples. No one should play the “holier than thou” game. We are all in it together. We must all say with Pope Francis, ‘I am a sinner in need of the grace of God.’ When we own up to our faults and failures, we win God’s mercy and pardon.

The Pharisees and Scribes complained about Jesus, eating with Tax Collectors and Sinners, little did they know that he will actually make himself the food of life, for sinners like you and me, in the Holy Eucharist. God is generous to sinners, he does not wish the death of sinners, but their repentance and restoration to good relationship with God. Take advantage of this opportunity, do not delay any further, Jesus waits for you at the confessional, in the priest. Confess your sins and receive the pardon of God.

Let us pray: Lord, do not treat us according to our sins, but be merciful. Amen. 

+Remain blessed