Saturday, February 17, 2018

Reflection for Saturday, February 17, 2018

Saturday after Ash Wednesday
IS 58:9B-14
PS 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
LK 5:27-32

We love to be invited places. Whether it was to a birthday party as a child, a wedding of a friend or family member, or simply to grab lunch, invitations make us feel valued and loved. Sometimes a simple invitation can lead to something much greater, even life changing. For me, an invitation to sit at a friend’s lunch table the first week of high school led to finding a group of friends I can’t imagine my life without. Simply being invited to hang out in the dorm room of a new college acquaintance led to one of the strongest friendships I have today. However, the reason these invitations all had such incredible outcomes was due to one reason -- I said yes.

In the Gospel today, Jesus invites Levi, a tax collector, to follow him. This invitation leads to a “great banquet” with others celebrating in community with one another. This undoubtedly joyful celebration only came about because of Levi’s “yes” to Jesus. Whether we realize it or not, we are given the same invitation by Jesus every single day. Accepting this invitation to actually live, with Jesus by our side, is life-changing. Yes, there will be hardships, we will be challenged, and we may question our faith from time to time, but there will also be more joy than we have ever dreamed of. Accepting the invitation to live a life with Christ leads to a “great banquet”. This banquet exists both here on earth with the people we encounter and ultimately in heaven with Love itself. Jesus invites each of us specifically, waiting desperately for our “yes” to the Greatest Invitation. Our yes allows us to experience the “great banquet” life with God truly is -- a life full of selflessness, peace, and overflowing joy.

One last thing about this invitation -- it has no limits. Levi was a tax collector, and tax collectors were stereotyped as thieves and traitors, marking them as unworthy of Jesus’ attention by His dedicated followers. However, Jesus chooses Levi, an “unworthy” tax collector, to come follow and dine with Him. With this action, Jesus is saying, “It doesn’t matter who you are, what you’ve done, or how you decide to live your life -- my invitation is still there.” His love has no boundaries, no requirements, no attachments. It just is, given without hesitation to each one of us. There is no such thing as unworthiness.


This Lenten season, let us be more aware of the daily invitations we are sent to engage in our communities, in our relationships, and in our conversations, and let our “yeses” be shown through the love we share between one another.

Madelyn Ennis is studying Occupational Therapy.

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