COLLECT: “ALMIGHTY EVER-LIVING GOD, LOOK WITH COMPASSION ON OUR WEAKNESS AND ENSURE US YOUR PROTECTION BY STRETCHING FORTH THE RIGHT HAND OF YOUR MAJESTY. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Is 58:9b-14; Ps 85:1-6 and Lk 5:27-32.
The portion of the Gospel of Luke we meditate on today is about the call of Levi/Matthew (Lk 5:27-32). He was a tax collector who cheated a lot on his clients as well as on his employers to maximise profit for himself. He knew he was not doing the right thing and probably his conscience was speaking to him as he was probably always worried about his dishonesty and cheating.
Therefore, when Jesus extended a call to him to follow him, he saw it as a welcome and a golden opportunity to turn a new leaf and start life (a good life) afresh.
This was also a golden chance for the Pharisees and Scribes who witnessed the call of Levi to start life afresh. They were equally making gains and profits at the expense of the people. We read and hear a lot about how they exploited the people and how they were doing things to win people’s admiration and to be famous. They actually made things difficult for the people. These constitute carnal and personal gains and profits.
In today’s portion of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (Is 58:9-14) we reflect on how Isaiah gives us more items on the lists of “what-not-to-do” and “what-to-do” during this season of Lent. The items on the “what-not-to-do-list” are about personal or carnal gains and profits. Selfishness, wickedness, trampling the Sabbath, oppression and manipulation, false accusations, malicious speech, torture, extortion, and so on, are done for carnal or bodily pleasure and gains. These do not please God. The items on the “what-to-do-list” are sacrifice, detachment and self-denial. These include: giving bread to the hungry, satisfying the afflicted, keeping the Sabbath and not following one’s own pursuits on the Sabbath Day, seeking the interest of the Lord and avoiding malicious speeches.
Today’s scriptures are a wake-up call to us to repentance, not only as a form of self-punishment, but as a way of opening ourselves to the mercy of God. We are urged and encouraged during this season of Lent to put aside our own ways that bring carnal and bodily pleasures and gains to us, to return to the Lord to follow him as Levi did. Let us be more eagerly intent on prayer and works of charity during this special season that God has given to us. Be open and ready to respond to the Lord’s call and leave your office (heart) of vices and follow the Lord of Mercy. May Saint Peter Damian intercede for us. Stay blessed and happy feast to all who bear the name Peter Damian.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, SATURDAY, ON THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE ANNUNCIATION, THE VISITATION, THE BIRTH OF JESUS, THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE AND THE FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE’. (LET US PRAY FOR HUMILITY, LOVE OF NEIGHBOUR, POVERTY IN SPIRIT, OBEDIENCE AND JOY IN FINDING JESUS) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “NOURISHED WITH THE GIFTS OF HEAVENLY LIFE, WE PRAY, O LORD, THAT WHAT REMAINS FOR US A MYSTERY IN THIS PRESENT LIFE MAY BE FOR US A HELP TO REACH ETERNITY. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com
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