Saturday after Ash
Wednesday
March 8, 2014 8:30am
There is one detail in today’s
gospel that really catches my attention.
In fact, that one detail unlocks
all that happens here.
The passage says that Jesus “sees a tax collector named Levi.”
He “sees” Levi.
We have to remember: in those
days, the tax collecting occupation was not honorable.
The way it worked was that the
tax collectors would collect from each person not just the amount prescribed by
the government.
They would also add on a nice
surcharge for themselves.
In fact, sometimes they would
take as much as they could get.
They were viewed as dishonest and
unethical.
But, Jesus “sees” this man named Levi.
He looks at him as a person.
He does not berate him or put him
down or call him a name like sinner.
Jesus just “sees” him and invites him to “Follow
me.”
And the rest is history.
Levi goes on to become a disciple
and an apostle.
So, Jesus “sees” this man as a person, not as an object, much less an object
of scorn or dislike.
He “sees” his inner possibilities, if not his inner goodness.
And Jesus’ positive approach has
positive results.
This approach is God’s approach
to each of us – positive, accepting, welcoming, understanding, and inviting.
The conclusion for our approach
to one another is obvious.
