January 18, 2025

Mark 2:13-17

In today’s reading, Jesus sees Levi, who is sitting at the customs post collecting fees, and calls him to follow him. Levi immediately responds.  In this, we learn again that God’s call may come suddenly and unexpectedly, and that it is possible to respond immediately, with a sudden turn towards God. That is how quickly the transformation can happen, if we are listening.

In the reading, we also hear that Jesus invited tax collectors and sinners to eat with him and his disciples in his house.  Tax collectors were regarded as thugs, mafia-like extortionists, the most despised members of society.  Other sinners may have been engaged in other unsavory livelihoods.  When Jesus hears the scribes criticizing him and questioning why he would eat with such riffraff (in the scribes’ opinion), he replies, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” 

In Philippians 2, Paul famously describes Jesus as the Son of God humbling himself to take on the form of a slave, a human body and human nature to be among us.  Not only did Jesus descend to the human level, he went still further, to be among the lowliest members of society, to be with day laborers, to mingle with the thugs and prostitutes.  He did not hold himself separate from either the physical grubbiness or the spiritual mess of misguided selfishness and conflict.  He did not hold himself pure, but rather descended all the way to getting his hands dirty, so to speak, among the nitty gritty of humanity.  Thus his humility was complete. 

This is a role model for us, to know that our spiritual path does not mean that we keep ourselves pure or hold ourselves separate from helping others. It is easier said than done, but the divine angels appreciate all efforts made to help those who are suffering either physically or emotionally.  It is so.  A bright light of love shines upon those efforts.  Amen.