The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to examine our attitudes toward people with whom we have differences particularly about the nature of our relationship with God.
Piety and healing
The reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah seeks authentic Sabbath observance that leads to blessing.
* [58:6–12] Fasting is not genuine without reforming one’s way of life. A true social morality will ensure prosperity. * [58:13–14] Sabbath observance becomes a cornerstone of postexilic piety; cf. 56:2, 4, 6.1
Psalm 86 is a prayer of supplication for help against enemies.
* [Psalm 86] An individual lament. The psalmist, “poor and oppressed” (Ps 86:1), “devoted” (Ps 86:2), “your servant” (Ps 86:2, 4, 16), “rescued…from the depths of Sheol” (Ps 86:13), attacked by the ruthless (Ps 86:14), desires only God’s protection (Ps 86:1–7, 11–17).2
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus Calls Levi.
[5:28] Leaving everything behind: see note on Lk 5:11.3
Nicky Santos, S.J. comments that as we enter the season of Lent, Levi’s story reminds us of the all-embracing love of our God. While no one is excluded, there is preferential love for the sinners, for those on the margins of society, for those rejected and abandoned.
As disciples of Jesus, we are called to have this same preferential love for the poor, the disadvantaged, the vulnerable. The Pharisees and scribes were concerned that Jesus was being contaminated by his association with tax collectors and sinners. Instead of being contaminated, Jesus’ love was contagious and brought about wholeness and healing. May each of us this Lent throw a lavish banquet in which we feast on the love of God, for all, but particularly for those who are despised and rejected.4
Don Schwager quotes “Our All-powerful Physician,” by Saint Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 AD.
"Our wound is serious, but the Physician is all-powerful. Does it seem to you so small a mercy that, while you were living in evil and sinning, he did not take away your life, but brought you to belief and forgave your sins? What I suffer is serious, but I trust the Almighty. I would despair of my mortal wound if I had not found so great a Physician." (excerpt from Sermon 352, 3)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 5:27-32 comments that sometimes we can be like these Pharisees and judge people too harshly. Sometimes we judge ourselves too harshly and think that God could never forgive us. But when we “sit down” with Jesus, we see the truth: he is all-loving, all-just, all-merciful. And we see that he welcomes us unconditionally, even though we are not always loving, just, or merciful. It’s then that we want to change and become more like him.
This Lenten season is a wonderful chance to get closer to Jesus. So make a habit of quieting down and putting yourself in his presence. Maybe visit your church or a local chapel and sit before him. Or set up a little prayer space in your home, with a crucifix or holy picture and a Bible. Just be silent. Leave the noise of the world behind so that you can hear Jesus speaking to you. Can you hear him say, “I love you”? That’s what he’s saying, over and over again. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve done—or failed to do. Jesus wants you to know him and to know that he loves you. “Lord, thank you for your unfathomable love!”6
Friar Jude Winkler discusses how the people felt cheated after their return from the Babylonian Exile. The Sabbath celebration calls the people to goodness. Friar Jude reminds us that we fail to see the hurt and brokenness in those we judge.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, invites us to take the message of the True Self into a deeper consciousness. He invites us to watch and listen to a music video as a contemplative practice. To practice audio or visio divina (sacred hearing or seeing) is to allow our hearts to be fully receptive to sound and image. The song and video are from Birdtalker, a Nashville-based musical group [1], that was featured at CAC’s CONSPIRE 2017: A Conspiracy for God.
The true self is deeper than our egos and eccentricities. At times mirroring the innocence of a child, it awaits our remembering. May we also open, with childlike curiosity, to our own transformation.7
We pray that our piety brings us to act like the Divine Physician as we attend to the hurts and brokenness of those we encounter on our journey.
References
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