AT THE TABLE OF THE FORGIVEN

 Meditation for Saturday after Ash Wednesday

(Is 58:9-14; Lk 5:27-32)

The prophet Isaiah gives us a beautiful description of the life of those are able to overcome evil behaviour in their lives. He recognizes the burden of unrighteous and uncharitable life; it is a yoke! If we put down this YOKE within us, and “Pour yourselves out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.” Sin is a burden; its absence is freedom! Those who have removed this yoke of unrighteousness from their lives shall have many good things to enjoy. The Lord will guide them continually, satisfy their desires with good things, make them strong, and they shall be like a watered garden...It is not enough to take off the yoke of sin, one must fill his life with love and devotion to the Lord, keep his laws, and guide his words. “Then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

All the beautiful blessings promised to those who have repented can be seen in action as Jesus sits at table in the house of Levi the tax collector. The feasting and celebration was an acknowledgment and appreciation of the new life he found in Jesus. Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away our sins, lifted off the burden on Levi and set him free from the yoke. The Pharisees understood the meaning of the great act of ‘eating together’ or ‘communion’ with somebody. It is an act of ‘exchange of life’ or ‘sharing of bond.’ They complained, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

“I have come not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” It is Jesus who calls, “Follow me” and offers the remedy for sins. Imagine how Levi and his friends enjoy the company of Jesus with so much peace and freedom. This was what tax money denied them from seeing by offering them worldly and momentary pleasures. Heaven too joins in the celebration when one sinner repents. So this season of Lent, we are more attentive the voice of Jesus that calls; in our fasting we express our hunger to dine with Jesus.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C. Ss.R
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos
Saturday February 20^th, 2021.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com