Seek Out God
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Saturday, February 25, 2012 8:59 AM
Saturday, February 25
I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners. – Luke 5:32
What a hopeful and comforting statement from our Savior in the gospel reading of today! I am just as sinful as the next man and I can’t help but smile and breathe a sigh of relief whenever I read this. We are all sinners yet God calls us change and even desires, as the physician, to heal us and spend eternal friendship with Him.
It is interesting that the gospel story focuses on Levi (otherwise known as Matthew). Levi was a tax collector. Tax collectors were considered outcast by their fellow Jews because they conspired with the Romans to collect the tax money and often collected more than what was demanded. They lived a life of selfish pursuits and comfort. So needless to say, when Jesus was seen with Levi, many of His followers and those who were suspicious of Him were very indignant. All we are told is that when Jesus saw Levi, He called out and said “Follow me.” Then Levi does something amazing. Scriptures say “And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed Him.” How did Levi do it? How could he leave everything behind so quickly and so seemingly unattached? Essentially Levi must have been looking for a change and repentance and when he was given the chance, he immediately responded.
Levi was responding to the longing that God has placed in all our hearts from the very beginning; a longing to know, love, and serve Him to the best of our ability. We only find fulfillment when we pursue God; when we follow Christ. At first Levi sought a life of comfort and he only found emptiness. We experience true freedom and happiness when we don’t live a life of selfish pursuits. This is echoed in the first reading for today in Isaiah. God promises that we will delight in Him and experience joy if we live by his statutes.
Levi found this joy when Jesus called him. Indeed he even gave a big banquet to celebrate! We too can find this joy if we continue to seek out God and follow the call He has placed on our hearts. He is calling all of us sinners to repentance and He will heal us from the wounds of the past. What will you do whenever you hear your name called? Will you leave everything and follow Him? Will you leave the emptiness behind and allow yourself to be healed? And will you join the celebratory banquet that Christ has prepared for you daily in the Mass?
—Helen Almeter
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