Jan 14, 2006

Mk 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.”
The Pharisees are quick to criticize Jesus for sitting at table with those who are considered the lower rung of their society. Jesus points out that the sick are those who need healing and the sinners are the ones who need the physician. He is here as a physician to heal the sinners. Again the bodily ills are not the only thing he has come to heal but the sins. Mathew, Levi, is called to discipleship. The righteous are not being called but the sinners.

When I am righteous, I can not see my sins and they are not laid open to myself as being in need of healing. I pray today for the love and conversion to see my sins and grow closer to Christ in all that I do.