First reading Isaiah 58:9-14
You will be like a spring whose waters never run dry
The Lord says this:
If you do away with the yoke,
the clenched fist, the wicked word,
if you give your bread to the hungry,
and relief to the oppressed,
your light will rise in the darkness,
and your shadows become like noon.
The Lord will always guide you,
giving you relief in desert places.
He will give strength to your bones
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water
whose waters never run dry.
You will rebuild the ancient ruins,
build up on the old foundations.
You will be called ‘Breach-mender’,
‘Restorer of ruined houses.’
If you refrain from trampling the sabbath,
and doing business on the holy day,
if you call the Sabbath ‘Delightful’,
and the day sacred to the Lord ‘Honourable’,
if you honour it by abstaining from travel,
from doing business and from gossip,
then shall you find your happiness in the Lord
and I will lead you triumphant over the heights of the land.
I will feed you on the heritage of Jacob your father.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Responsorial Psalm 85(86):1-6
Show me, Lord, your way so that I may walk in your truth.
Turn your ear, O Lord, and give answer
for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am faithful;
save the servant who trusts in you.
You are my God, have mercy on me, Lord,
for I cry to you all the day long.
Give joy to your servant, O Lord,
for to you I lift up my soul.
O Lord, you are good and forgiving,
full of love to all who call.
Give heed, O Lord, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my voice.
Gospel Luke 5:27-32
Jesus comes not to call the virtuous, but sinners to repentance
Jesus noticed a tax collector, Levi by name, sitting by the customs house, and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And leaving everything he got up and followed him.
In his honour Levi held a great reception in his house, and with them at table was a large gathering of tax collectors and others. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples and said, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’ Jesus said to them in reply, ‘It is not those who are well who need the doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the virtuous, but sinners to repentance.’
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Lent is about loving
The first reading states, “If you do away with the yoke, the clenched fist, the wicked word, if you give bread to the hungry, and relief to the oppressed, your light will rise in the darkness…” Through the prophet Isaiah, God reminds us that true faith is not shown through empty gestures but through attentiveness to others, removing oppression, speaking kindly, feeding the hungry, restoring broken relationships and caring for those around us. When our repentance leads us to compassion and concrete love, light breaks forth and healing begins.
In the Gospel, Jesus calls Levi from his tax booth and chooses to share a meal with those labelled as sinners. This simple yet radical act shows us God’s mercy in action. Jesus does not wait for perfection; He meets people where they are and invites them into a new life. Like Levi, we are called to let go of what binds us and to follow Jesus with greater faithfulness and love.
Reflective question:
Where is God inviting me this Lent to move from religious practice to a more merciful and loving way of living?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
