By Desing John csc –
Readings: Is 58: 9c-14; Lk 5: 27-32
The ‘Call of Levi’ made me to reflect on this question; why did Jesus deliberately choose Levi to be his Apostle knowing well that he appeared to be a bad figure in the society? In spite of many people with good reputation Jesus did not choose them because he looks at the heart and not at the qualification. He knows what is in the heart regardless of what is in the mind and pocket. We all are capable of becoming something better than what we are now provided we are willing to leave the past, get up and follow Jesus just as Levi did.
Jesus never judges us for our limitations and weaknesses but wants us to realize that we can improve. Likewise, we should never undermine someone based on their profession, color, status, skills and talents. Mother Teresa said, “If you judge a person, you have no time to love him.” Jesus’ going out of his way to dine with the sinners and outcaste is an invitation for us to look at others with compassion and not with prejudice. The jobless, the poor, and the prostitutes in our society are reflection of human greed and exploitation of the weak for one’s benefit.
Those whom we consider ‘Nobody’ in the society may be the precious souls in God’s eyes. The call of Levi reminds me of the words of an Indian sage, ‘Never look up at anybody and never look down at anybody, look at them as the way they are.’ We all are equal in the eyes of God. Some way or the other our life is like that of Levi in which there are aspects that we need others’ help to change and to improve. Jesus knows well that we need him for no one is righteous; we need to humble ourselves before God and others. Lent is a season to look into our life closely as to how genuine we are in responding to the invitation of Christ ‘come follow me’. When we
acknowledge our wickedness and repent we shall be like a watered garden.