Day 4: Saturday after Ash Wednesday: March 8, 2014

                                                               

Day 4: Saturday after Ash Wednesday:

March 8, 2014

“Jesus saw a tax collector…

and said to him, follow me” Luke: 5:27

The choice of an outcast, misfit, and a tax collector at that for an apostle by Jesus seems to be unusual and crazy by any standard. He parties with him and celebrates his conversion and vocation. Don’t you think it raised a few eyebrows in Jesus’ time? Pay attention to what Jesus does here. He deliberately and intentionally chooses to seek out a human person for Jesus could see that he is in need of his compassion and mercy. It is by seeing, sitting down, sharing a meal, going that extra mile to his home, taking a risk of scandal in the eyes of the world, and spending time with Levi that Jesus really shows how much he cares for a sinner and gives a strong message that he is ready to overlook our sin especially when we return to him with a contrite heart. The decision of a catholic school in Boston area to boycott the St. Patrick Day parade because gays are allowed to march is disturbing to say the least. Are we running away from the so-called “sinners”, the outcasts of the church today? The separated, the divorced, couples joined by civil union, prostitutes, prisoners, LGBT community, don’t they deserve compassion and mercy from Jesus who spent his time here on earth seeking out the last, the least, the lost? Jesus definitely had an attitude of great interest and care for these in his time. The love of Jesus led the way to all for exclusivity. Whom am I keeping out of my reach? Will I be able to ‘dine’ with a sinner and win him/her over for Jesus this lent?   

                            

God Bless you always!

Sincerely Yours,
Rev. Fr. Cyriac Chandy Mattathilanickal, MS

Wishing you and yours A Holy Lent! 

Rev. Fr. Tom Puthusseril, M.S., Shrine Director