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Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything behind, he got
up and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his
house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table
with them. Luke 5:27–29
Levi’s life changed in an instant. He encountered the Messiah, the
Son of God, the Savior of the world, and in response to Jesus’
simple yet profound invitation—“Follow me”—Levi left everything
behind and followed Him. This radical decision offers an inspiring
witness as we begin our Lenten journeys.
Christ’s call is often twofold. Even those baptized as infants must
eventually hear and respond to that call for themselves. There
comes a moment after the age of reason when those raised in the
faith must choose whether to embrace the call to follow Jesus. For
those who did not encounter Christ in their youth or who might have
strayed from Him, the call is ever-present, continuously offered by
God. Like Levi, once that invitation is heard and internalized, it
demands a response—a radical choice to follow Him. And with that
choice, life is never the same.
When Levi accepted Jesus’ invitation, his life underwent a complete
transformation. He “left everything behind.” While his career as a
tax collector was financially lucrative, it likely left him
spiritually empty. Tax collectors were viewed with disdain by their
fellow Jews because they worked for the Roman oppressors and often
took more than what was owed for their own profit. This position,
though offering wealth, created a life of moral compromise, guilt,
and isolation. It was into this interior emptiness that Jesus
entered. Levi, touched by an intuitive grace, recognized that
abandoning everything and following Christ was the answer to his
deepest longings.
Have you heard Christ’s call in your own life? Have you abandoned
everything that stands in the way of fully following Him? This
question is especially significant for those who were raised in the
faith. While being baptized as a child and growing up in the Church
is a great gift, it does not automatically mean that we have
internalized the faith or personally responded to Jesus’
invitation. Have you truly heard Jesus call you? Have you left
behind everything that hinders your complete “Yes” to Him?
Levi’s transformation didn’t stop with his “Yes.” He wanted to
share his newfound joy and faith with others. Levi hosted a “great
banquet” for Jesus in his home, inviting a large group of tax
collectors and others to meet the One who had changed his life. His
encounter with Christ was so profound and life-giving that he
couldn’t keep it to himself—he wanted others, especially those whom
he knew were also spiritually empty, to encounter the same
transformative love.
If you have responded to Jesus’ call and given your life to Him,
your heart will naturally burn with a desire to share that joy with
others. As you look at your family, friends, and acquaintances, do
you see the same restlessness or emptiness that once filled your
heart? How might God be calling you to invite them to encounter
Christ? Perhaps, like Levi, you are called to “host a banquet” in
your own way, sharing the Good News with those who need it the
most.
Reflect today on Levi’s conversion and see your own life in his
story. Recognize the restlessness within your heart and listen for
Jesus’ call. Identify Him as the answer to your deepest desires.
Say “Yes” to His invitation, abandoning everything that competes
with His will, and share the treasure of your faith with others.
Embracing this twofold path is one of the best ways to ensure a
truly fruitful Lent.
My inviting Lord, You call to me each day, yet I often fail to
listen. Help me to hear Your voice more clearly this Lent and to
respond with all my heart. I choose to leave behind all that stands
in the way of following You, and I pray that You will use me to
invite others to Your heavenly banquet. Jesus, I trust in
You.
Image: José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro
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