'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 (Lk. 5:27-32).”
The Pharisees and Scribed did not understand that Jesus’ mission encompassed anyone who heard his word and sought the kingdom of God. They had a myopic view of who could be saved. Tax/toll collectors were despised because they frequently charged more that the tax prescribed by the Romans. When Jesus called Levi, he gave up everything and followed him. To totally give up such a lucrative lifestyle would have been a very difficult choice (see Luke 18:18-23). Levi gave a banquet at which it is reported that Pharisees and their scribes were there. This seems strange as Pharisees would not normally share a meal with sinners, but Luke puts it in the context of them questioning why Jesus was sharing a meal with sinners. Jesus told the self-righteous Pharisees that he has come to call those without merit, the outcasts and sinners, to repentance and to a total conversion of heart so they could have a place in the kingdom of God. Their response should be a complete turnaround of their lives in gratitude to God.
Almighty God, You call us to repentance and a complete turnaround of our lives. Fill us with your sanctifying grace so that we may leave all that possesses us behind and follow the path to salvation with a grateful heart. This we pray trough Christ our Lord. Amen!
References:
Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, & Roland E. Murphy, (Eds.). (1990, 1968). The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentis Hall, Inc.
Jose M. Casciaro, Santiago Ausin, Gonzalo Aranda, Claudio Basevi, Vincente Balaguer, Francisco Varo, James Gavigan, Brian McCarthy & Thomas McGovern (Eds.). (2017). The Navarre Bible - New Testament. Dublin 8, Ireland: Four Courts Press.
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