Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Mark 2, 13- 17
Jesus went out along the sea.
All the crowd came to him and he taught them.
As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus,
sitting at the customs post.
Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
And he got up and followed Jesus.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples;
for there were many who followed him.
Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners
and tax collectors and said to his disciples,
“Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus heard this and said to them,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
Jesus teaches so that you may teach others
- Teach. Jesus is not lazy. He’s aware that people are in need of God, so He teaches them. Our religion is so rich that it has explanations for everything: there is theology, catechism, saints’ writings, martyrs’ acts, the lives of saints, popes’ writings, and so on. There are so many things we can learn from! Many times, we are so lazy that we only do the bare minimum. But if you want to know more about the things of God, get into it, there’s a lot to choose from. Go ahead! Don’t let laziness stop you. Take advantage of your free time to read a good book to learn more about God. That also helps you to teach your brothers and sisters.
- Choose. Jesus chooses you and does not care about your past or the labels you’ve been given. For God you’re important the way you are. He does not look at your sin or your weakness, He looks for a way to save you and get you out of that pit you’re in. God wants to take you out of there and show you his love. You are his chosen one. Don’t be afraid of what people might say about you, but rather have the courage to follow Him regardless of what they may say about you. That’s God. God chooses you just as you are and loves you infinitely. He chose Levi and did not make him change; but when Levi got to know Jesus, he naturally changed over time.
- Mercy. This is the third attitude we find in the Gospel. It talks about mercy because the destitute and the weak discover in God that they’re rich. That’s the key to rescuing your brothers and sisters, not by highlighting their lowliness, but by washing their hearts with your virtues, so that they may overcome their weaknesses. We sinners are the ones who are in need of following God. The Virgin Mary is the only Immaculate one, all the rest of us have weaknesses to overcome. Strive on, because God has chosen you the way you are.
Remember that something good is on the way!
God bless you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
