Scripture: Isaiah 58:9-14. Psalm 86:1-6. Luke 5:27-32. Lectionary # 223:

Levi, a tax-collector, is invited to follow Jesus. He then has a meal at
Levi's home while Jesus is inviting him on another sphere to the eternal
messianic banquet. Levi is probably the Apostle Matthew who is mentioned
in the lists of the apostles. He is the only person who would seem to fit
that of the apostle named Matthew. Why did he follow Jesus? The last
sentence of today's Gospel gives us the answer--he accepted the invitation
to have a change of heart and was also very open to being healed by the
Divine Physician, Jesus. Luke alone tells us that "he left everything to
follow Jesus." In our narrative the word "rising" is used at the beginning
of his call and this is expressed by a form in the Greek verb called the
Aorist "indicating the continual and ready disposition of discipleship."
Discipleship is another theme that we can join to prayer, fasting, and
generous self-giving for our Lenten reflection and practice. By following
the readings of the Evangelists each day we learn about the criteria of
discipleship. Jesus always takes the initiative in giving us the call; he
is the one who invites us. He looked in a peering way at Levi. (The verb
"theaomi" is used which means to look intently upon someone). Scripture is
God's way of looking and peering into our hearts and as today's disciples
we need to be ready and open to the call of Jesus. In Luke will constantly
be reminded that prayer is another criteria required for our discipleship.
Luke is a now person and wants us to pray daily and often. As St. John
Chrysostom says, " Prayer from the heart is not confined to fixed times or
periods but is continuous throughout the day." Amen.