The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary challenge us to place care for the material and spiritual needs of all people we encounter over the controversy our action may generate.
The reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah exhorts us to authentic fasting 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. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 58 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 86 is a 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). (Psalms, PSALM 86 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus Calls Levi.
* [5:17–6:11] From his Marcan source, Luke now introduces a series of controversies with Pharisees: controversy over Jesus’ power to forgive sins (Lk 5:17–26); controversy over his eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners (Lk 5:27–32); controversy over not fasting (Lk 5:33–36); and finally two episodes narrating controversies over observance of the sabbath (Lk 6:1–11). (Luke, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)
Vivian Amu comments that in a world where we are inundated with news of division, political strife, social injustice, economic disparity, selfishness, fear, and many people suffering in silence, it is comforting that the scripture readings provide us with much-needed balm for our collective wounds.
This season of Lent offers a transformative opportunity to realign our values and actions with love, echoing the teachings of Jesus. The message is clear: true religious observance is intrinsically linked to acts of kindness and justice. The type of kindness and justice that goes beyond just fasting, almsgiving, and abstinence for lent. Maybe this lent, we could stretch a little further. Maybe we could include an invitation, a farewell, and a dare, as we create our spiritual to-do list. Maybe we could intentionally, from a place of love and compassion, invite someone into our circle of friendship. Maybe we could find the courage to properly say farewell to the things and situations in our lives that no longer help us grow. Maybe we could dare say, "I forgive you," to someone who needs to hear that or say, "Forgive me,” to someone bruised by our words or actions. Maybe we could dare to be Christ-like; people who are gatherers, restorers, relationship builders, truth-tellers, and spacious.
Merciful God, help me find a quiet reflective space today to awaken my heart and transform my life into a reflection of hope, love, and faith-in-action. Amen (Amu, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Our All-powerful Physician,” by 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) (of Hippo & Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 5:27-32 comments that by sharing a meal with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus shows us that we can’t really bring them the good news without encountering them face-to-face. Like Jesus, we can offer God’s mercy to people by spending time with them.
So take a chance! Introduce yourself to that neighbor no one talks to. Maybe invite them out for coffee or offer to help with yard work. Smile and wave at—and say a prayer for—that young person you see at the bus stop who seems to have few friends. Give a bottle of water, a snack, and a few kind words to the person on the street corner holding a sign asking for food or work. Get to know them, and let them get to know you. Little by little, your actions and words will reveal what God’s mercy looks like.
“Lord, give me your heart to love those who are unloved!” (Meditation on Luke 5:27-32, 2025)
Friar Jude Winkler connects the passage today to yesterday and the disappointment of the returning exiles from Babylon who are exhorted to observe a fast of conversion and removal of oppression through feeding the hungry and observing the Sabbath rest. Jesus calls and dines with Levi, a tax collector for Rome, a position that often was associated with corruption and extortion. Friar Jude reminds us of the concern of a possible source of “contagion” through the companionship of “sharing bread” with sinners.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Anglican mystic and writer Maggie Ross who reminds us that tears are a divine gift and a sign of God’s presence and grace:
Tears and contemplation (the two are synonymous) are gifts, and both gifts of a deep encounter with Fire that tears ignite and salt through our whole being. The gift of tears frees and is a sign of being freed both from control and from the fear from which control springs, and the desire for the safety our fears offer us and the desire to try to control in order to feel secure. It is to the love of God and an initially terrifying freedom that this gift opens us, the freedom to become part of the all-holy I AM, to be poured-out-through.…
Lacrimae rerum: the tears in things; the creation that bursts with the potency of transfiguration bleeds also with the tears of its redemptive Creator. Deep calls to deep; not some sentimental “might have been” but a divine call to a reality whose density of holiness can be seen only through the veil of tears. (Rohr, n.d.)
We contemplate the connection between our call to care for the people in our environment and spontaneous release of tears that we might experience in companionship and “sharing bread”.
References
Amu, V. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved March 8, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/030825.html
Isaiah, CHAPTER 58 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 8, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/58?9
Luke, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 8, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/5?27
Meditation on Luke 5:27-32. (2025, March 8). The Word Among Us. Retrieved March 8, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/03/08/1223113/
of Hippo, A., & Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus Calls Sinners to Follow Him. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 8, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=mar8
Psalms, PSALM 86 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 8, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/86?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Tears of Things: Weekly Summary. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved March 8, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-tears-of-things-weekly-summary/
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