Christian Art | The Calling Of Saint Matthew by Caravaggio
Luke 5: 27-32 – Saturday after Ash Wednesday (Audio Bible, Spoken Word)
27 ¶ And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.
28 And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
29 And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.
30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
It was a sin for Levi to collect taxes for the occupying Roman power. His company would be anathema to the Jews. In calling Levi, in giving him a vocation, Jesus is calling a sinner to leave behind his former self to follow him.
Levi’s joy at Christ’s call demands a great celebration. With great generosity of spirit, he invites Christ to share in a banquet. His vocation and rebirth, as he renounces the sins of his past, are not a cause for any sadness or long faces, but rather for giving and sharing, publicly expressing his conversion to Christ.
At the banquet, a large company of tax collectors (publicans) and sinners are gathered, and once again we hear the Pharisees and scribes speak against Jesus and his disciples: What on earth are they doing with people like this? And so Jesus replies: ‘I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’ The gift of Jesus’ incarnation overwhelms the Jewish practice and the old law. We are all sinners. None of us is perfect. Christ’s call is to us all, to accept the vocation he offers us, to save us all.
We think then of how, as St Paul states, salvation is not to be found in the old law of Moses, only in Christ. We are saved through simplicity of faith in Christ, by approaching Christ acknowledging that we are sinners. There is no time for the cold, legalistic calculations of the scribes; only through a cheerful self-surrender to Jesus will we be saved.
‘When he told us to follow him, it was not that he needed our service but that he wanted to bestow salvation upon us. To follow the Saviour is to share in salvation; and to follow the light is to perceive the light. Those who are in the light do not themselves cause the light but rather they are lit up by it. They do not help the light but they are helped and illuminated by it.’ St Irenaeus
Audio Bible KJV | Endnotes
How and why did Jesus eat with sinners?
The event challenges our assumptions about who is worthy of God’s love and forgiveness and reminds us of Jesus’ radical message of inclusivity and compassion.
The act of sharing a meal together in Jewish tradition was a significant one, symbolizing fellowship and mutual acceptance. However, in Jesus’ time, sharing a meal with certain individuals could also be seen as a scandalous and socially unacceptable act. Religious leaders criticized Jesus for eating with tax collectors (‘publicans’ – KJV), prostitutes, and other ‘sinners’, seeing such behaviour as a violation of the purity laws and a betrayal of Jewish tradition.
Jesus’ actions in these instances were deliberate and purposeful, revealing his message of love and acceptance for all. His willingness to dine with those who were considered outcasts and unclean challenged the religious and societal norms of his day and demonstrated his commitment to embodying God’s love and mercy.
The scene of Jesus eating with sinners connects to key themes in Christianity. Jesus’ association with ‘sinners’ echoes the Parable of the Prodigal Son, in which the father forgives and celebrates the return of his wayward son, even though he has squandered his inheritance and brought shame upon his family. This parable highlights the transformative power of repentance and forgiveness and emphasizes the importance of extending grace and mercy to those who have gone astray.
Likewise, the scene of Jesus eating with sinners is a powerful reminder of the centrality of the Christian message of salvation. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus offers the possibility of redemption and reconciliation for all who believe in him, regardless of their past actions or social status. As the bridegroom of a new covenant, Jesus extends a loving invitation to all to partake in the feast of God’s kingdom, regardless of their past mistakes or failures.
Jesus eating with sinners challenges our assumptions about who is deserving of God’s love and forgiveness and reminds us of the radical inclusivity and compassion of Jesus’ message. By sharing meals with tax collectors, prostitutes, and other ‘sinners’, Jesus demonstrates his commitment to embodying God’s love and mercy and revealed the transformative power of repentance and forgiveness. As followers of Jesus, we are called to extend this same grace and mercy to others and to welcome all into the loving embrace of God’s kingdom.
Psalm 24 expresses awe and reverence for God the Creator of the universe. The psalm resonates with themes of divine ownership, holiness, and quest for spiritual purity and access to the presence of the Lord [ … ]
John 4:13-14 (KJV) ‘Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.’ Introduction to the Life of Saint Bernadette Saint Bernadette Soubirous, a humble peasant girl from Lourdes, France, lived her life of faith, humility, and divine grace. Born on January 7, 1844, in the small town of Lourdes, Bernadette was the eldest of nine children in a poor and struggling family. Her father, François Soubirous, was a miller, and her mother, Louise, a laundress. The family lived in a former prison cell known as the Cachot, a damp and cramped space, according to their dire financial situation. Despite their poverty, the Soubirous family was deeply rooted in their Christian faith, a foundation that would profoundly shape Bernadette’s life and spiritual journey. Bernadette’s early years were marked by significant health challenges. She suffered from asthma and other respiratory ailments, which often left her weak and unable to attend school regularly. This lack of formal education meant that Bernadette struggled with reading and writing, and her understanding of Christian doctrine was limited. Nevertheless, she possessed a remarkable simplicity and purity of heart, qualities that would make her an ideal recipient of divine revelations. Bernadette’s life changed irrevocably on February 11, 1858, when she experienced the first of eighteen apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the grotto of Massabielle. On that cold winter day, Bernadette, her sister Toinette, and a friend were gathering firewood near the grotto when she heard a rustling sound and saw a beautiful lady dressed in white with a blue sash, holding a rosary. The lady, who later identified herself as the Immaculate Conception, appeared to Bernadette over the course of several months, delivering messages of penance, prayer, and the need for a chapel to be built at the site. Despite initial skepticism from her family and the local authorities, Bernadette remained steadfast in her account of the apparitions, enduring intense scrutiny and even ridicule. The apparitions drew enormous attention. Soon, people from all over France and beyond began to visit Lourdes, hoping to witness a miracle. One of the most significant messages conveyed by the Virgin Mary to Bernadette was the instruction to dig in the ground near the grotto, which led to the discovery of a spring. This spring, believed to have healing properties, became the focal point of the pilgrimage to Lourdes. Many miraculous healings have been attributed to the waters of Lourdes, reinforcing the belief in Bernadette’s visions and the sanctity of the site. As the apparitions concluded, Bernadette’s life took a different turn. In 1866, she joined the Sisters of Charity in Nevers, taking the name Sister Marie-Bernard. Her time in the convent was marked by continued poor health and humility, as she carried out menial tasks and lived a life of quiet service. Despite her physical suffering, Bernadette remained devout and accepted her hardships with grace, often repeating the phrase, “I am happier here in my little corner of the convent.” Her unwavering faith and dedication to her religious duties exemplified the depth of her spiritual commitment. Bernadette Soubirous passed away on April 16, 1879, at the age of 35, after a prolonged battle with tuberculosis. Her legacy, however, endured far beyond her earthly life. In 1933, she was canonized as a saint by Pope Pius XI, recognized for her humility, faith, and the miraculous events associated with her life. Today, millions of pilgrims flock to Lourdes each year, seeking spiritual renewal and physical healing at the site of her visions. Saint Bernadette’s life continues to inspire countless individuals around the world, reminding us of the power of faith, the virtue of humility, and the enduring presence of divine grace in our lives. To Visit Lourdes Visiting Lourdes, in the picturesque foothills of the Pyrenees in southwestern France, is an experience that transcends the physical journey, drawing pilgrims into a profound spiritual adventure. The small town, known for the Marian apparitions witnessed by Saint Bernadette Soubirous in 1858, has become one of the world’s most revered pilgrimage sites. As we approach the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, the atmosphere is imbued with a palpable sense of reverence and anticipation. The grand basilicas, the tranquil Grotto of Massabielle and the gently flowing waters of the miraculous spring together create a sacred environment that invites reflection, prayer, and a deep connection with the divine. The focal point of any visit to Lourdes is the Grotto, where Bernadette experienced the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Here, pilgrims can touch the rock face, light candles, and drink or bathe in the spring’s water, believed to possess healing properties. The profound silence and sense of sacredness at the Grotto allow visitors to contemplate their faith, seek solace and find spiritual renewal. The Rosary Basilica, with its mosaics, and the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, perched above the Grotto, offer spaces for communal worship and personal meditation. The nightly candlelight processions, where pilgrims from around the globe unite in prayer and song, highlight the universal bond of faith and hope that Lourdes represents. Beyond its physical beauty and historical significance, visiting Lourdes offers a deeply personal and transformative experience. Pilgrims often arrive burdened with ailments, grief, or spiritual crises, seeking comfort and miracles. The stories of healing and faith that emerge from Lourdes are testimonies to the enduring power of belief and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The communal aspect of the pilgrimage—sharing meals, prayers, and stories with fellow believers—fosters a sense of solidarity and mutual support. For many, the visit to Lourdes is a journey of healing, not only of the body but also of the soul, providing a renewed sense of purpose, peace, and spiritual clarity that lingers long after returning home. Prayer With Saint Bernadette Prayer for Intercession Dear […]
In a time and in a land where different communities lived side by side yet non-communicatively, fearing, suspecting and disliking one another, and often bound by religious laws telling them not to interact, it is all the more extraordinary that Jesus tells his disciples to trust in life, in providence, in strangers’ hospitality, as they travel throughout the lands, as it would now be internationally, healing people and preaching the Gospel [ … ]
