February 19th

February 19th
Luke 5:27-32
Barbara Virgil

Jesus Calls Levi

Levi, a tax collector, is at work in the tax booth when Jesus approaches him and says “follow me.” Levi immediately leaves everything and follows Jesus. Later, Levi hosts a great banquet for Jesus, where many tax collectors and other “sinners” are present. The Pharisees and their scribes question the disciples about why they eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners, and Jesus is the one to answer…“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.”

From the beginning, (after Adam and Eve’s original sin in the Garden of Eden), God understood how prone we humans would be to poor decision-making, making false judgments and assuming things we shouldn’t assume, so he provides a way for us to repent. He provides a second chance. He says, “follow me.”

It is not up to us to judge who is acceptable in God’s eyes, or who has need of his leading and healing. It is only necessary for us, as individuals, to recognize His call and to follow Him.