From: Luke 5:27-32
The Calling of Matthew
[27] After this He (Jesus) went out, and saw a tax collector, named Levi, sitting
at the tax office; and He said to him, “Follow Me.” [28] And Levi left everything,
and rose and followed Him.
[29] And Levi made Him a great feast in His house; and there was a large com-
pany of tax collectors and others sitting at table with them. [30] And the Phari-
sees and their scribes murmured against His disciples saying, “Why do you
eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” [31] And Jesus answered them,
“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; [32]
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
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Commentary:
27-29. Levi, better known as Matthew, responds generously and promptly to the
call from Jesus. To celebrate and to show how appreciative he is for his vocation
he gives a banquet. This passage of the Gospel shows us that a vocation is some-
thing we should be very grateful for and happy about. If we see it only in terms of
renunciation and giving things up, and not as a gift from God and something which
will enhance us and redound to others’ benefit, we can easily become depressed,
like the rich young man who, not wanting to give up his possession, went away
sad (Luke 18:18). Matthew believes in quite the opposite way, as did the Magi
who “when they saw the star rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” (Matthew 2:10)
and who gave much more importance to adoring the new-born God than to all the
inconveniences involved in travelling to see Him. See also the notes on Matthew
9:9; 9:10-11; 9:12, 9:13; and Mark 2:14; 2:17.
32. Since this is how Jesus operates, the only way we can be saved is by admit-
ting before God, in all simplicity, that we are sinners. “Jesus has no time for cal-
culations, for astuteness, for the cruelty of cold hearts, for attractive but empty
beauty. What He likes is the cheerfulness of a young heart, a simple step, a na-
tural voice, clean eyes, attention to His affectionate word of advice. That is how
He reigns in the soul” (St. J. Escriva, “Christ Is Passing By”, 181).
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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible by Darton, Longman & Todd
Readings at Mass
Liturgical Colour: Violet.
| First reading |
Isaiah 58:9-14 © |
The Lord says this:
If you do away with the yoke,
the clenched fist, the wicked word,
if you give your bread to the hungry,
and relief to the oppressed,
your light will rise in the darkness,
and your shadows become like noon.
The Lord will always guide you,
giving you relief in desert places.
He will give strength to your bones
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water
whose waters never run dry.
You will rebuild the ancient ruins,
build up on the old foundations.
You will be called ‘Breach-mender’,
‘Restorer of ruined houses.’
If you refrain from trampling the sabbath,
and doing business on the holy day,
if you call the Sabbath ‘Delightful’,
and the day sacred to the Lord ‘Honourable’,
if you honour it by abstaining from travel,
from doing business and from gossip,
then shall you find your happiness in the Lord
and I will lead you triumphant over the heights of the land.
I will feed you on the heritage of Jacob your father.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Show me, Lord, your way so that I may walk in your truth.
Turn your ear, O Lord, and give answer
for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am faithful;
save the servant who trusts in you.
Show me, Lord, your way so that I may walk in your truth.
You are my God, have mercy on me, Lord,
for I cry to you all the day long.
Give joy to your servant, O Lord,
for to you I lift up my soul.
Show me, Lord, your way so that I may walk in your truth.
O Lord, you are good and forgiving,
full of love to all who call.
Give heed, O Lord, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my voice.
Show me, Lord, your way so that I may walk in your truth.
| Gospel Acclamation |
cfPs94:8 |
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
Harden not your hearts today,
but listen to the voice of the Lord.
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
I take pleasure, not in the death of a wicked man
– it is the Lord who speaks –
but in the turning back of a wicked man
who changes his ways to win life.
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
Jesus noticed a tax collector, Levi by name, sitting by the customs house, and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And leaving everything he got up and followed him.
In his honour Levi held a great reception in his house, and with them at table was a large gathering of tax collectors and others. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples and said, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’ Jesus said to them in reply, ‘It is not those who are well who need the doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the virtuous, but sinners to repentance.’