School of the Word
Encounters with Jesus in the Gospel of St. Luke. 2/4: Jesus meets Levi, the tax collector.
by Paola Ng.
Jesus meets Levi, the tax collector, by Paola Ng.Passages:
After this he went out and 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."
Luke 5:27-32
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you. Jer 1: 5
“ This conversion of one tax collector gave many men, those from his own profession and other sinners, an example of repentance and pardon. Notice also the happy and true anticipation of his future status as apostle and teacher of the nations. … … we must realize that he not only gave a banquet for the Lord at his earthly residence, but far more pleasing was the banquet set in his own heart which he provided through faith and love”
Saint Bede the Venerable (Hom. 21: CCL 122, 149-151)
"Because He who is acquainted with the hearts, and knows the secrets of each man's mind, knew also when each of these would obey. Therefore not at the beginning did He call him, when he was yet in rather a hardened state, but after His countless miracles, and the great fame concerning Him, when He knew him to have actually become more prepared for obedience."
St. John Chrysostom
(Homily 30 on the Gospel of Matthew)
Reflection:
1) How ready am I to leave everything behind to follow Jesus?
2) Who can I invite to the banquet in my heart to meet Jesus?
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