February 25,2012 - SATURDAY of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Saturday after Ash Wednesday
Is 58:9-14 * Ps 86 * Lk 5:27-32

THE CALL OF LEVI

Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners."  

 

CALLING ALL SINNERS

N "Never been a sinner, I've never sinned; I've got a friend named Jesus! So you know that when I die, it's gonna set me up with the Spirit in the sky." So goes the song, "Spirit in the Sky," a seventies pop hit recorded by Norman Greenbaum. It's a great beat, easy to dance to, but bad theology. Much to the chagrin of self-righteous and moralistic churchgoers, Christianity is not a religion for non-sinners. The righteous, or at least those who claim righteousness, have their salvation from the law, for they have obeyed every commandment and have no sin and no need of repentance. Jesus suffered and died for sinners so that, raised up from sin and death, they might share in salvation with the righteous. But since "all have sinned" (Romans 3:23), all are in need of salvation. It's popular to think that the sinless have a friend in Jesus, but it's not true. Jesus came to call sinners. Prayer: O Lord, I was a sinner and a moral failure lost in my guilt. But you found me and healed me and healed my troubled soul. Now, still a sinner, I seek your forgiveness and peace. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Action: Read Romans 3:21-24 and think about how the model of salvation expressed in that passage compares to popular understanding.

(Taken from Between Sundays by Paul Boudreau, published by Paulines. Visit us at www.paulines.ph or at Paulines Media Centers.)

 

Sower’s Thought: "We have an easy and sure way to bring the world to Jesus Christ. It is to pass by Mary's way. Those who go to Mary will find Jesus." - Blessed James Alberione, Founder of the Pauline Family

NOTICE: Please be informed that Daily Gospel Reflection provided by this site will be discontinued starting May 1, 2012. For this will be replaced by YOUTUBE HOMILIES, as well as our existing podcast program in Tagalog: Bagong Umaga (see Home page). Thank you for reading. - Paulines.ph