First Week of Ordinary Time – Mark 2:13-17
This Gospel opens with Jesus walking on the shore of the sea. Once again many people came to Him to hear Him teach. As He was walking along, He saw Levi sitting at his customs post. As Jesus walked by, Jesus simply said to Levi: “come and follow me.” And immediately Levi left his post to follow Jesus. Levi invites Jesus to come to his house.
Jesus sat at the table with Levi and his guests, many of whom were tax collectors and sinners. The people around the table were a motley crew! When the Pharisees and scribes saw that Jesus had the audacity to dine with sinners, they began to criticize Him. When Jesus hears what they are saying, He immediately responds to their criticism by telling them that those who are well are not in need of healing. However, “these people” (the tax collectors and sinners) are in need of a physician! Jesus then tells them that He has come to call the sinners! They are the ones in need!
Since we are all sinners, Jesus calls us---you and me! Not only does He call us, He also will dine with us and come and make His “home” with us. Jesus knows that we need healing. He does not expect us to be perfect. Jesus simply wants to make us “whole” again.
The question is: will we respond to Jesus’ call? Will we follow Him more closely? Jesus always gives us a choice: to answer His call or to walk away! What will we choose today?
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