Fr. Sanctus Mario
Inspiration and Bible Reflections

Jesus calls Us to change Our Lives. Saturday After Ash Wednesday

Jesus calls Us to change Our Lives

Breakfast with the Word Saturday After Ash Wednesday

Luke 5:27-32.

 

 

 

The gospel reading of Luke 5:27-32 begins with the call of Levi. We also see in this gospel the call to change our lives. This lent is not a time to focus on praying for breakthrough only, the lenten season is a time to repent and change our lives.

This is the major aspect of the lent. So, through this lent, Jesus is calling us to change our lives. We have to come back to Jesus and say no to Sin.

 

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To Be A True Disciple of Jesus. Breakfast With the Word Thursday After Ash Wednesday

 

Reconcile With God: Reflection on Ash Wednesday

 

Our Reverence to God; True or Worthless? Mark 7:1–13

 

Make Peace with your past: Inspiring Word 1

 

Never lose Hope in Life

 

Contact with Jesus: Breakfast with the Word Mark 6: 53-56

 

Compassion in the Life of Jesus

 

 

The Gospel

 

 

Levi was a tax collector, but when Jesus calls him today, Levi leaves everything and follows Jesus. Because of this, Levi held a great feast in his honour. In this feast, we see Jesus eating with tax collectors.

 

The Pharisees begin to accuse Him of eating with sinners. To this, Jesus responds, “I have come to call sinners to repentance and not those who are righteous”.

 

 

 

How Jesus calls Us To Change Our Lives.

 

 

Levi was a well-known tax collector before His call.

As a tax collector, he collects unpaid taxes from the people. During the time of Jesus, these sets of people were reviled and hated by the people.

 

The gist is that the Jews, as of that time, were under Roman dominance. So they pay taxes to Rome. Tax collectors collect these taxes. They sometimes add more money to the fixed taxes people are required to pay. They use this opportunity of collecting taxes to extort people of their hard-earned money.

 

So, the tax collectors amass great wealth through this. The people know about this.

 

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The tax collectors are despised, hated and seen as the worst sinners for this reason. It was this type of life that Levi was enjoying, but immediately Jesus calls, his life changes from a tax collector to an apostle. It shows that no enjoyment can stop anyone from accepting Jesus.

 

In this Lenten period also, Jesus is calling us to change our lives. Jesus does this through daily Lenten messages, bible readings, reflections, words of advice, etc. Jesus is telling us that it is true that we are truly comfortable with how we have been living our lives, but nothing surpasses more than to be his apostle.

 

Levi, who was a tax collector, transformed to be an instrument of touching souls for God. In the same manner, Jesus wants to see us change.

 

What does it profit a man if he enjoys and gains the whole world and loses his soul at last (Mark 8:36)? What does man achieve after extorting people, taking advantage of them because of financial gain and selfish desires and yet at the end of his life, he discovers that the world is nothing?

 

Where will our soul be if we are to die today? So, Jesus is calling us to change. It is the reason He has come.

 

All Has Sinned.

 

In this Lenten season, the church is reminding us to come back to God. Jesus tells the Pharisees that He has come only for the sinners. Those who do not need Jesus are they, who like the Pharisees, deem themselves as righteous.

 

We have to know that No one is righteous, and if no one is, then we all need Jesus. We need Jesus.

Others need Jesus. That weakness in me, and you need His divine touch.

It is also a call that Jesus is ready to forgive you again despite your past. Therefore, do not conclude that God cannot forgive you. Now is the time to come back to God and seek His face.

 

How To Change.

 

If we want to change, we have to do these things that Levi did.

 

  1. When Levi met the Lord and heard His voice, he obeyed Him and even made a feast for that. We need the presence of Jesus in our lives.

 

Give Him the chance to occupy your hearts. So, when you hear Him talk to you in the silence of your heart, never disobey Him.

Allow also the words that we read and hear every day take deep into our hearts. The change occurred in the life of Levi, immediately He hears the voice of Jesus and obeys. The call to change our lives is the call to obey God. Our change comes when we take His word very seriously and keep to it.

 

  1. The life of Levi was a comfortable one. He was making His money. In the past, He was in a high position and enjoyed great fortune.

 

Despite these, He left them at once. To truly change the way we live, nothing should take the place of Jesus in our lives.

 

  1. Levi’s response was immediate. It was a prompt response. Levi did not postpone it to tomorrow or next week.

Therefore, we should not postpone our response to God indefinitely. So, quit delaying the day of your reconciliation with God. Jesus needs that immediate response from you.

 

Hence, do not delay that peace talk you are supposed to have with someone. So, quit postponing that good thing you want to do for somebody. So, once it is something between you and your Creator, let it come through that hunger that comes from the heart.

 

  1. Levi left everything. He did not leave a single thing. He abandoned His profession and luxury life. What sinful life can we abandon? We have to sacrifice everything that will draw us away from God, even if it means your friend who always causes you to sin.

 

  1. We have to come after Jesus. Hence we have to be like Him, learn from Him and follow in His footsteps. Therefore, like Jesus, we have to be close to God, always in communication with Him, humble, peaceful and faithful to God.

 

The call to change our lives is the call to embrace Jesus again. The calling to change our lives is the time to tell God, “ I am sorry”. It is what the Lenten season is calling us to do. What then could be our response to this call?

May God bless you dearest, forgive us our sins and give us the grace to remain close to Him. Amen

 

 

 

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40 Comments
  1. Okonkwo onyinye says

    AMEN

  2. Vivian Elochukwu says

    Amen.Lord give us grace to worship you in spirit and truth 🙏

    1. Veronica Wambui karanja says

      AMEN N AMEN N AMEN 🙏🙏 fr pray for me to GOD to change the kind of business I’m doing..I hv been selling Alcohol and I have been praying to GOD to bless me with financial breakthrough to re start another business and it seems like nothing.

  3. Mailoushi James says

    Amen, remain blessed Fr to the glory of God’s name, Amen

  4. Blessing Salifu says

    Amen 🙏 🙏 🙏

  5. Margaret Awum says

    Amen 🙏

  6. Yolanda Malebatsane says

    Amen

  7. Boitumelo Malebatsane says

    God change my life like the life of Levi I am not a Tax collector but I am sinner in jesus name amen🙏

  8. Onyekonwu Ngozi says

    Amen! Thank you Jesus for reminding me of it is for me to embrace your call.

  9. Regina Ajua Mobu says

    Amen

  10. Otokpa Elijah says

    Oh, have mercy on me a sinner

  11. Christian says

    Amen

  12. Onyeoma Ukamaka says

    Amen

  13. Gabriel-Martin says

    Amen Fr

  14. Angela Ekere says

    Amen

  15. Beatrice Solomon says

    I am sorry Lord.
    Amen

  16. Cecilia.U.Christopher says

    Amen🙏🙌🙏 thanks Padre for this delicious food for our soul, may God give Grace to follow his footsteps and continue to strengthen and protect you in his vineyard 🙏🙏🙏🙏

  17. Emelda says

    Amen

  18. Udemezue Martina Mary says

    Amen

  19. Nwanesi Chikaodinaka Fidelia says

    Lord, I believe in you, help my unbelieve, and strengthen my look warmness. help me say YES to you always without a second thought in mind. Amen!!🙏

  20. Ogechi Anugwom says

    Amen

  21. Grace Uba says

    Amen

  22. Mariajacinta Ivoke says

    Amen

  23. Agina Uchenna says

    Amen

  24. Goodluck Ekeocha. says

    Amen.

  25. Anidiobi Sylvia Ngozi says

    Heavenly Father show me mercy Amen

  26. Cordelia Agudosi says

    Amen

  27. Mbama Christiana says

    Amen and Amen.

  28. Munachimso onuoha says

    amen

  29. IKECHI EMMANUEL ONYEMA says

    AMEN 🙏
    Thank you Padre
    May the Lord grant us His Grace and Mercy to uphold His words and overcome the self- Man in us through Christ Our Lord…. Amen 🙏🌹
    Shalom

  30. Adozima Chidi Helen says

    Amen

  31. Eunice okeyo says

    AMEN 🙏

  32. Amalu Gloria says

    Amen, may almighty God have mercy on our sins and also give us grace to be closer to him. In Jesus name. Amen.

  33. Oby Okpalaeke says

    Amen 🙏

  34. Eze Juliana Nkechi says

    Amen

  35. Ugwu Josephine Nnenna. says

    Amen. Remain blessed Padre.

  36. Dr. Julie says

    Amen

  37. Obinna says

    Amen
    Thank you Fr.

  38. Enibe Jacinta Amara says

    Amen

  39. DORIS EMMANUEL OGBAN says

    FATHER PLEASE GIVE ME THE GRACE TO REMAIN CLOSE TO YOU 🙏💯

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