Walk in the Spirit February 2020

36
Saturday 29th February 2020
Isaiah:58/9-14
Psalm:85/1-6
(86/1-6)
Luke:5/27-32
Gospel Proclamation
After this, Jesus went out and saw
a tax collector named Levi, sitting in
his office. Jesus said to him, “Follow
me.” Levi got up, left everything,
and followed him. Then Levi had a
big feast in his house for Jesus, and
among the guests was a large number
of tax collectors and other people.
Some Pharisees and some teachers of
the Law who belonged to their group
complained to Jesus' disciples. “Why
do you eat and drink with tax collectors
and other outcasts?” they asked.
Jesus answered them, “People who
are well do not need a doctor, but only
those who are sick. I have not come to
call respectable people to repent, but
outcasts.”
Gaze at Jesus’ Sonship
Jesus utters two profound words to
the two groups present at Levi’s house,
namely the tax collectors and the Pharisees.
To the Tax collectors, Jesus said
“Follow me”. To the Pharisees Jesus
said, “I have not come to call respectable
to repent, but outcasts”. In both expectations,
the person to whom they are called
to turn to is Jesus. Jesus calls them to
follow Him and to repent because in
Him is implicit security, joy, happiness
and freedom devoid of sin.
Our Sonship
Repentance is the sign that we accept
Jesus as the divine provider even when
we commit an error, in our trials and
pain. Repentance is also a sign that we
accept Jesus as the Lord and Master of
"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"
our life.
Book of Isaiah says in the first
reading, “When you pray, I will answer
you. When you call to me, I will
respond. “If you put an end to oppression,
to every gesture of contempt, and
to every evil word; if you give food to
the hungry and satisfy those who are
in need, then the darkness around you
will turn to the brightness of noon.
And I will always guide you and satisfy
you with good things. I will keep
you strong and well. You will be like
a garden that has plenty of water, like
a spring of water that never runs dry.
Your people will rebuild what has long
been in ruins, building again on the
old foundations. You will be known as
the people who rebuilt the walls, who
restored the ruined houses.”
Therefore, let us reflect, where does
our joy begin from? What do we call
freedom?
More we gaze at Jesus' Sonship,
we begin to see our inequities, our own
selfishness, our inner anger, dissatisfactions
that lead us to hoarding of power
and wealth.
We have begun the season of Lent
and it is a good time to consider Jesus’
invitation to repent.
Prayer Starter
(Psalm 86: 1-6)
Listen to me, Lord, and answer me,
for I am helpless and weak.
Save me from death, because I am
loyal to you; save me, for I am your
servant and I trust in you.
You are my God, so be merciful to
me; I pray to you all day long.
Make your servant glad, O Lord,
because my prayers go up to you.
You are good to us and forgiving, full
of constant love for all who pray to you.
Listen, Lord, to my prayer; hear my
cries for help.