Faith Daily | 5 March 2022

PRAYER of the DAY - APBA p 481

Almighty and everlasting God,

you hate nothing that you have made,

and you forgive the sins of all who are penitent:

create and make in us new and contrite hearts,

that we, worthily lamenting our sins,

and acknowledging our wretchedness,

may obtain of you, the God of all mercy,

perfect remission and forgiveness;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

GOSPEL for the Day: Luke 5: 27-32

27 After this he went out and saw a tax-collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ 28And he got up, left everything, and followed him.

29 Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house; and there was a large crowd of tax-collectors and others sitting at the table* with them. 30The Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples, saying, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax-collectors and sinners?’ 31Jesus answered, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; 32I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.’

GOSPEL REFLECTION: Carol Streatfield

This time, when I read this passage, I couldn’t help smiling as I saw a twinkle in Jesus’ eye as he said the last sentence. The Pharisees were pointing out his errors again - eating and drinking with the ‘wrong sort’. He answered, “Those who are well have no need of a physician …” How true is that?! As a Psychologist, (and this would apply to Medicos as well) one is very aware that trying to help heal someone of what the professional might believe is the problem will be completely unsuccessful if one doesn’t begin with what the client/patient believes is the problem! In Jesus’ time, sickness was caused by ‘sin’, therefore, earlier, Jesus had told the paralysed man that his sins were forgiven him. He needed to hear this; he believed he was totally unacceptable to God. “The well have no need of a physician”. Why would they listen? “I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.” Presumably because he had some chance of finding an audience amongst them; people who would listen, who knew they needed help and were prepared for the required reorientation of their lives. Righteous people had no need for repentance. They were already pointing the right way; their way. Hopefully, it was God’s way, too: to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God. (Micah 6:8).

FINAL PRAYER: Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlav (pluralised)

Grant us the ability to be alone.

May it be our custom to go outdoors each day

among the trees and grasses,

among all growing things

and there may we be alone,

and enter into prayer

to talk with the one

that we belong to.

Amen.