The Season of Lent,  you take away from the midst of you the yoke,

the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.

  

St. John of God, religious

Labor without stopping, do all the good works you can, while you still have the time.

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Isaiah 58:9b-14

If you remove

From your midst the yoke, the clenched fist and the wicked word,

if you share your food with the hungry and give relief to the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the dark, your night will be like noon.

 

The Lord will guide you always and give you relief in desert places.

He will strengthen your bones; he will make you as a watered garden,

like a spring of water whose waters never fail.

 

Your ancient ruins will be rebuilt; the age-old foundations will be raised.

You will be called the Breach-mender, and the Restorer of ruined houses.

If you stop profaning the Sabbath and doing as you please on the holy day,

if you call the Sabbath a day of delight and keep sacred the Lord's holy day,

 

if you honor it by not going your own way, not doing as you please and not speaking with malice,

then you will find happiness in the Lord, over the heights you will ride triumphantly,

and feast joyfully on the inheritance of your father Jacob. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.

 

Ps 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊       Luke 5:27-32

After this, Jesus went out, and noticing a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax-office,

he said to him, "Follow me!" So Levi, leaving everything, got up and followed Jesus.

Levi gave a great feast for Jesus, and many tax collectors came to his house

and took their places at the table with the other people. Then the Pharisees and their followers complained to Jesus' disciples,

"How is it that you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" But Jesus spoke up,

"Healthy people don't need a doctor, but sick people do. I have not come to call the just, but sinners, to a change of heart."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"Follow me!"

"I have not come to call the just, but sinners, to a change of heart." Conversion, or a change of heart,

is fundamental to the purpose of the Season of Lent. The Scripture presented to us at the liturgies of the Church,

as well as the prayers and devotions we practice during this period,

help us reflect on the state of our relationship with God and our neighbour, so that our love and service can grow.

Conversion comes after reflection. If we are unaware of our sins, we can't repent of them; still less will we change our way of life.

However, the realization that things need to change can come in different ways.

 

For Levi, his encounter with Jesus brings together conversion and mission, all in one moment.

Our call to conversion might be less dramatic, but the same Lord stands before us too, saying,

"Follow me!" Let's listen for that call through the Scriptures, through the liturgies and devotions of this sacred time,

so that we are prompted to reflect and respond with a heart that is humbled and renewed by the Lord.