If we
never sinned, we wouldn’t be able to call Jesus saviour. Remember the incident
that took place before His birth and how the name ‘Jesus’ came about. The angel
Gabriel had appeared to Joseph to reveal to him the divine plan concerning his betrothed
and the pregnancy she bore. Among other things, the angel made it clear to him
the “she will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save
His people from their sins” (Matthew
1:21). In fact, the very name Jesus means “Saviour” or “God saves”. His name
was His mission statement.
If the
Scribes and Pharisees of the today’s gospel reading understood this much, then
they wouldn’t have had problems with His going into the house Levi the
tax-collector and eating with sinners and prostitutes. They would have observed
for themselves that it was just the Doctor doing His ward round in the
intensive care unit. The good Lord was emphatic in restating His mission: “I
came not to call the righteous, but sinners”.
Is
it good news, as the First Reading points out, that we have a High Priest who
is able to sympathise with us in our weaknesses? A high priest who does not
judge or condemn us but calls and cleanses us? Levi must have been astonished by the
acceptance he received from the Lord. He knew he didn’t deserve such treatment.
That singular experience made such a deep impression on him that it changed him
from being a tax-collector to an apostle.
We sinners
have a special affinity with Jesus. It is from there that we gain the
confidence to approach the throne of grace. We must cherish this privilege; we mustn’t
take it for a ride. The Apostle asks rhetorically, “Shall we go on sinning so
that grace may abide? Certainly not!” (Romans 6:15). The example of Levi should
always be before us.
Have a nice day and God loves you.
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