Saturday after Ash Wednesday

Title and Theme

Who Are the Sinners Jesus Calls?

Outline and Body

We all know who the sinners are: it is those other guys whom we do not like

For Republicans, it is Democrats and vice versa

For Calvinists it is Catholics

For the rich it is the poor, the immigrant, and unions

Oh, the accusers say, I have my faults; I am not perfect, but those other guys . . .

And then there are those for whom sin is a power game; what is moral is what those with power say is moral - there are no absolutes

God, of course, knows who are sinners

Those who oppress or burden others

Those who accuse others - the pointing finger

Those who fail to care for the hungry, the afflicted

In other words, those who deflect blame from themselves and refuse to care for the needy, usually blaming them for their situation

Jesus knows who the sinners are who are called

He said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

He had seen Levi, who collected customs duties, who knew others rejected him, who did not expect a teacher to notice him - Jesus called him

Levi “gets it.” He makes a dinner in Jesus’ honor. He calls those who would associate with him: collectors of customs duties, those who were not kosher in one way or another - they all had one thing in common: the Jewish establishment rejected them, pointed the finger.

Perhaps they also had something else in common, a longing for repentance, a way in, a way to God

The Pharisees and scriptural experts do not “get it.” They know that they keep the rules and others do not. Therefore, they are already in, while those others - and Jesus because he associates with them - are sinners

Jesus implies that because they think that they are righteous, they are not called, there is no use trying to treat their “illness” because they do not think they have it.

To be called, one has to stop pointing the finger and at least long for a change of life

We are into Lent now, Sisters, let us make our calling sure

Let us give up whatever accusing or pointing of the finger that we do

Let us focus on Jesus and only compare ourselves with him

Then we will be among the called at table with Jesus, not among the accusers who think that they are righteous

Readings

First Reading

Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition Chapter 58

9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;

you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am.

“If you take away from the midst of you the yoke,

the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry

and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

then shall your light rise in the darkness

and your gloom be as the noonday.

11 And the LORD will guide you continually,

and satisfy your desire with good things,h

and make your bones strong;

and you shall be like a watered garden,

like a spring of water,

whose waters do not fail.

12 And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;

you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;

you shall be called the repairer of the breach,

the restorer of streets to dwell in.

13 “If you turn back your foot from the sabbath,

from doing your pleasurei on my holy day,

and call the sabbath a delight

and the holy day of the LORD honorable;

if you honor it, not going your own ways,

or seeking your own pleasure,j or talking idly;

14 then you shall take delight in the Lord,

and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth;

I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father,

for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Gospel

Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition Chapter 5

27 ¶ After this he went out, and saw a tax collector, named Levi, sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And he left everything, and rose and followed him.

29 And Levi made him a great feast in his house; and there was a large company of tax collectors and others sitting at tabler with them. 30 ¶ And the Pharisees and their scribes murmured against his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; 32 ¶ I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Notes