Luke 5: 27-32
After this Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up, left everything, and followed him.
Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house; and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting at the table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
We Are Included in "The Sick"
I wonder how the scribes and Pharisees thought about Jesus’ response to their critique. I imagine that they maintained their outrage at Jesus offering table fellowship to the “less desirable” members of the community. Perhaps they felt that it wasn’t fair that Jesus ate with those who sinned instead of with them. But if they took a moment to reflect on what Jesus actually said, they might realize that what they should be feeling was relief! Jesus came for the sinners. That’s them! That’s us!
The scribes and Pharisees may have thought that they weren’t included in the category of sinner, but if they (and all of us) are honest with themselves, they might recognize that they are part of “the sick” to whom the physician is sent. We all need healing. May we be grateful for the divine physician who comes for the sick. May we be grateful that Jesus comes for each of us.
—Lauren Gaffey is the director of communications for the Midwest Jesuits and associate director of communications for the Office of Ignatian Spirituality.
Prayer
Lord, you came for sinners, you came for all of us. Open our hearts to see where are most in need of your healing and forgive us for the times that we haven’t lived up to what it means to call ourselves your disciple. Amen.
—Jesuit Prayer team
Pray with the Pope
Pray with the monthly prayer intentions of the pope.