FRIENDS OF THE TAX COLLECTOR

Meditation for Saturday after Ash Wednesday

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

Let us meditate on the conversion of Levi, the tax collector, and the warm hospitality he offered to Jesus in house. Our Lenten observances are targeted at conversion of heart. The prompt and immediate response of Levi to Jesus’ invitation, “Follow me”, is inspiring. This tax collector was so overwhelmed with the new life he found in Jesus that he organized a feast in his house the Master. “And there was a large company of tax collectors and others sitting at table with them.” This attracted the attention of the Pharisees and scribes, who murmured against Jesus, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

Now, pause and think a bit deeply how Levi, who had given up his corrupt ways, still had his former colleagues as friends. Though he had given his life to Christ, the other tax collectors were still familiarizing with him. This association can be of great challenge to his resolve to follow Jesus. It will either strengthen his resolve or weaken it. For Levi to maintain the new life he found in Jesus, he must constantly renew that prompt and immediate response to Jesus. Thus, saying YES to Jesus must be constantly renewed, especially when we find ourselves surrounded by the alluring presence of the old ways.

Therefore, ‘the friends of the tax collector’ will always remind him to renew his resolve to follow Jesus. Often times we repent of our sins, but the occasions of sin still abound. We regret our old ways, but they are still before us as available options. The friends of the repentant tax collector are still dining with him. There is no need to throwing blame or murmuring like the Pharisees. The prophet Isaiah says, “And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your desire with good things, and make your bones strong.” He does not call us once and abandon us; His voice continues to re-echo in the silence of our hearts, “Follow me.” He continues to call us, even in the midst of situations that threaten our resolve to follow Him. As we continue to answer, the Lord says through the prophet Isaiah, “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.” Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Saturday February 25^th, 2023.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com