"RECEIVE THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST VERY FREQUENTLY.

THE SIGHT OF A CHRISTIAN'S LIPS RED WITH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST

TERRIFIES THE ENEMY.  HE IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZES THE SIGN OF

HIS OWN RUIN. HE CANNOT STAND THE INSTRUMENT OF DIVINE

VICTORY BY WHICH HE WAS TAKEN CAPTIVE AND CAST DOWN."
                                           

                                                             - Saint Peter Damian

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Isaiah 58:9b-14

Then you will call and

Yahweh will answer, you will cry and he will say, I am here.

If you remove from your midst the yoke, the clenched fist and the wicked word.

If you share your food with the hungry and give relief to the oppressed, then your light will rise in the dark,

your night will be like noon. Yahweh will guide you always and give you relief in desert places.

He will strengthen your bones; he will make you as a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters never fail.

Your ancient ruins will be rebuilt; the age-old foundations will be raised.

 

You will be called the Breach-mender, and the Restorer of ruined houses.

If you stop profaning the Sabbath and doing as you please on the holy day,

if you call the Sabbath a day of delight and keep sacred Yahweh's holy day,

if you honor it by not going your own way, not doing as you please and not speaking with malice,

then you will find happiness in Yahweh, over the heights you will ride triumphantly,

and feast joyfully on the inheritance of your father Jacob. The mouth of Yahweh has spoken.

 

Ps 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Luke 5:27-32

After this, Jesus went out, and noticing a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax-office,

he said to him, "Follow me!" So Levi, leaving everything, got up and followed Jesus.

Levi gave a great feast for Jesus, and many tax collectors came to his house,

and took their places at the table with the other people.

 

Then the Pharisees and their followers complained to Jesus' disciples,

"How is it, that you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"

But Jesus spoke up, "Healthy people don't need a doctor,

but sick people do. I have not come to call the just, but sinners to a change of heart."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

He sees beyond our flaws.

Today, St. Luke presents the conversion narrative of Levi, the tax collector.

Tax collectors were ostracized by their own kind because they exploited their countrymen

by imposing excessive taxes in favor of the Romans and for themselves.

Despite this, Jesus called Levi His disciple,

revealing that He sees beyond our flaws and recognizes the good within us.

 

Levi's immediate response to Jesus testifies this as he followed obediently without hesitation.

As Levi stood up and followed Jesus, he also rose from his sinful life and found a new life in Jesus;

hence, the celebration. We, too, are invited to do the same,

to leave everything that hinders us from following Jesus.

Let us make the most in this Lenten season by examining

what we need to leave behind for the glory of God's Kingdom.