I HAVE COME FOR SINNERS

(Hebr. 4:12-16, Ps. 19, Mk. 2:13-17)

The gospel reading of today narrates the call of Levi, one who by every human standard does not merit having such a close affinity with Christ, who is like us in every regard except sin. Yet, Jesus will use this special invite of this man who by the virtue of his work and actions has yearned himself the name, of a public sinner to teach a special lesson on the special place He has for sinners.

Jesus Christ has come primarily to give to every one of us salvation. He has come to redeem us from our wretched ways of sins. He makes himself one-like us so that He may teach us the perfect way to go and draw us closer to that fountain of grace, for we have all sinned and fallen short of His grace. He says: "It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners."

Like Levi, let us respond promptly to this call of grace, let us not play the deputy of God, distinguishing souls who are worthy and not worthy of the grace of God. He has come simply for those who acknowledge their nothingness and sinfulness and are ready to receive pardon and become new. That patients do not approach the doctor does not make him/her less a doctor, rather, those who fail to go to the doctor have only missed out on what the doctor can offer them. So also with our relationship with God. He remains who He is whether or not we go to Him. We will only be doing ourselves great good when we allow Him a place in our life.

"The word of God is something alive and active: it cuts like any double-edged sword but more finely: it can slip through the place where the soul is divided from the spirit, or joints from the marrow; it can judge the secret emotions and thoughts." The word of the Lord is spirit and life. For all those who accept it, life is given to their soul but to all those who outrightly reject it, they are condemned by the very words they reject. The word of God is double-edged, as it affects you, so does it affect me, wherever it touches us, let us make amend so that we may become faithful followers of His.

Let us pray: O God, your word is spirit and life, help us to have a renewed interest in your word, and may we be ever ready to respond to that call to grace. Amen