Saturday, March 9, 2019

Immediately Follow


The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/030919.cfm) reminds me that we should immediately leave everything behind as we follow Christ.


There are different reactions to being called. Some wait it out until the caller gives up. Some wait until the other person calls again or gets mad before following. Some wait until such time there is no more option aside from following. And there are some who immediately respond to the call. This is how God wants us to act - to immediately act. 


The gospel shows us Levi, a sinful man, immediately leaving everything behind and following Jesus.


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.


God does not judge us without first giving us a opportunities to right our wrongs. He gave Levi a chance, even if he was a sinful man, to follow Jesus. His sinful situation did not prevent him from being called to God’s kingdom. However, Levi needs to leave everything behind – his past life, his sins and bad habits, his lifestyle, so he can really follow Christ. He cannot be an effective follower of Christ if he will not leave things behind, if he will occasionaly go back to his old life and sin. Also, he needs to do it immediately, not plan it. He has to decide, with God’s grace, to leave his dark past and focus on the present and hope for he bright future with Christ.


This is what is giving us right now. The opportunity to repent. The opportunity to follow him. This season of Lent, we are called to reflect, to repent, and to follow God moving forward. And we should do it immediately. Jesus is calling each one of us. Jesus is asking us to come and follow Him. 


How do I respond to God’s call, especially this lent, to repent and follow him? What prevents me from acting like levi? What is God asking me today? 


May we heed His call to immediately follow Him. 


Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for this weekend. Lord, I thank you for never giving up on me, for never judging me. Thank you for the opportunities you give me to change my ways. sorry for all my excuses. Sorry for not following you. Sorry for not responding to your call. Lord, I ask that I be ready when you call me. May I wholeheartedly leave everything behind and follow you all the days of my life. Amen.



Blessed Weekend!



In Christ,

-g-



Ps

See related reflections:










March 9 2019

Saturday after Ash Wednesday
Lectionary: 222

Reading 1IS 58:9B-14

Thus says the LORD:
If you remove from your midst oppression,
false accusation and malicious speech;
If you bestow your bread on the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted;
Then light shall rise for you in the darkness,
and the gloom shall become for you like midday;
Then the LORD will guide you always
and give you plenty even on the parched land.
He will renew your strength,
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring whose water never fails.
The ancient ruins shall be rebuilt for your sake,
and the foundations from ages past you shall raise up;
"Repairer of the breach," they shall call you,
"Restorer of ruined homesteads."

If you hold back your foot on the sabbath
from following your own pursuits on my holy day;
If you call the sabbath a delight,
and the LORD's holy day honorable;
If you honor it by not following your ways,
seeking your own interests, or speaking with maliceB
Then you shall delight in the LORD,
and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;
I will nourish you with the heritage of Jacob, your father,
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.


Responsorial Psalm PS 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R. (11ab)  Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.
Incline your ear, O LORD; answer me,
for I am afflicted and poor.
Keep my life, for I am devoted to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God.
R. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.
Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for to you I call all the day.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
R. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in kindness to all who call upon you.
Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my pleading.
R. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.


Verse Before The Gospel EZ 33:11

I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord,
but rather in his conversion, that he may live.


Gospel LK 5:27-32

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."


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