Calling Sinners

The WORD today reminds me that God is calling us sinners to follow him.

In airports, when people are late for boarding, their names are announced in the public address system. Once when we were traveling in a group, ordering food took longer than expected and we were not able to keep track of the time, and we were just surprised when our names were called because we were the only ones the plane is waiting for. We ran fast and were so ashamed coming into the airplane.  This is somewhat similar to the attention God gives to the "special" ones.

God calls the sinners to follow Him.

In the gospel, Jesus called a sinner in Levi. Levi was a sinner and was working at his post, doing what he usually does, when Jesus called him. Jesus was not like usual leaders or coaches who want great people, star players, for the team. He calls everyone. He welcomes everyone. Even sinners. The people nobody wants. And he did not mind people talking about Him. He says that he came to call sinners, not the self righteous. Like in the airport, he is calling each and every sinner to come to him, but without the intention of shaming us. He calls us to save us. To give us an opportunity to start again and live right. He will never tire of calling us. We just need to come to him and humble ourselves.

When he calls us, we should do our part. We should listen. We should act. When Jesus called Levi, Levi stood up and followed Jesus. If Levi remained in his post, nothing would have happened. However, he did his part. Levi followed Jesus. And it led him to his eventual conversion.

How is God calling me to repent and follow him? Do I recognize him? Am I sensitive to his call? How do I respond to his call? Am I willing to follow Jesus as he calls me?

May we be able to hear him calling us in a lot of different ways, and be humble enough to come to him and heed his call.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, Sorry for the times i ignore your call. Sorry for the times i do not recognize your voice. Sorry for being insensitive and hard headed. thank you for not giving up on calling me. May I always be aware of your call, and may I always be humble enough to recognize and heed your call. Amen.

Blessed Weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

January 18 2020

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 January 17  |  January 19 »

Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 310

Reading 1 1 SM 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1

There was a stalwart man from Benjamin named Kish,
who was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror,
son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite.
He had a son named Saul, who was a handsome young man.
There was no other child of Israel more handsome than Saul;
he stood head and shoulders above the people.

Now the asses of Saul’s father, Kish, had wandered off.
Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you
and go out and hunt for the asses.”
Accordingly they went through the hill country of Ephraim,
and through the land of Shalishah.
Not finding them there,
they continued through the land of Shaalim without success.
They also went through the land of Benjamin,
but they failed to find the animals.

When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the LORD assured him,
“This is the man of whom I told you; he is to govern my people.”

Saul met Samuel in the gateway and said,
“Please tell me where the seer lives.”
Samuel answered Saul: “I am the seer.
Go up ahead of me to the high place and eat with me today.
In the morning, before dismissing you,
I will tell you whatever you wish.”

Then, from a flask he had with him, Samuel poured oil on Saul’s head;
he also kissed him, saying:
“The LORD anoints you commander over his heritage.
You are to govern the LORD’s people Israel,
and to save them from the grasp of their enemies roundabout.
“This will be the sign for you
that the LORD has anointed you commander over his heritage.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (2a) Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
O LORD, in your strength the king is glad;
in your victory how greatly he rejoices!
You have granted him his heart’s desire;
you refused not the wish of his lips.
R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
For you welcomed him with goodly blessings,
you placed on his head a crown of pure gold.
He asked life of you: you gave him
length of days forever and ever.
R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
Great is his glory in your victory;
majesty and splendor you conferred upon him.
For you made him a blessing forever;
you gladdened him with the joy of your face.
R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

Alleluia LK 4:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor
and to proclaim liberty to captives.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 2:13-17

Jesus went out along the sea.
All the crowd came to him and he taught them.
As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus,
sitting at the customs post.
Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
And he got up and followed Jesus.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples;
for there were many who followed him.
Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners
and tax collectors and said to his disciples,
“Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 
Jesus heard this and said to them,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”