Mass Readings for Saturday, March 8: Isaiah 58:9-14; Psalm 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6; Luke 5:27-32
In today’s first reading from Isaiah he tells us what to do to lead a holy life according to God. “If you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; the light shall become for you like midday; then the Lord will guide you always.” How comforting to hear the words, “The Lord will guide you always,” but how hard can it be to allow God to lead us.
In the Gospel of Luke today, Jesus tells Levi, a tax collector, to follow Him. Levi immediately gets up and follows Jesus. He doesn’t even think twice about it. He drops all that he is doing and follows Him. How many of us can faithfully imitate Levi? It can be hard for us to do because we enjoy life the way it is and can easily get stuck in our ways.
The last thing Jesus says in the Gospel today is, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.” In this sentence Jesus tells us that if it’s hard to give up things and follow Him it’s alright because He came to save you. He came to call the sinners to repentance, and that’s every single one of us.
Sometimes that can be a hard pill to swallow, but it is something we can rejoice about. God sent us the perfect physician to heal our souls, and forgive those sins we think are unforgiveable.
Lent has just begun, and the first few days can be easier because we are on fire for our love of God and want to grow closer to him during these forty days. These readings today challenge us to boldly live our faith.
Let’s keep that fire going all throughout Lent while we bestow “bread on the hungry,” allow God to “guide us always,” and to “follow Him.” Let us not forget about the Sacrament of Confession during this Lent where we have the beautiful opportunity to humbly go before our Divine Physician, so He can heal our weary souls with His never-ending mercy.
I’m praying for you.
