Pages

Background Music

Now Playing:

Easing from Journey

By Jamendo (track 16)

https://www.jamendo.com/en/track/643145/easing

Nature

Heartsong from Inner Music

By Madeleine Doherty (CD1 track 2)

Instrumental harp music based on Madeline's meditations. www.madeleinedoherty.ie

Shen Khar Venakhi from Crux Vocal Ensemble

By Crux Vocal Ensemble

Crux is a gathering of voices on the Atlantic fringe of Europe in the historic city of Dublin. www.cruxvocalensemble.com

Nature from

By

No music playing

Fade Speed

Text Size

Privacy Cookies Terms of use

Home Mark 2:13-17 NRSVue

Mark 2:13-17 NRSVue

13Jesus went out again beside the sea; the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them. 14As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax-collection station, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.

15And as he sat at dinner in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17When Jesus heard this, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician but those who are sick; I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)

“Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.”

Reflection on Mark 2:13-17

Inspiration from 2025-01-18 Daily Prayer

Was this Levi’s farewell meal for his friends before he took to the road and followed Jesus? In the call to follow Jesus we have to leave many things behind. What are the things we still cling to that hinder our total commitment to being followers of Jesus?

The Pharisees wanted to have nothing to do with those they deemed sinners. In contrast, Jesus always sought out the company of sinners and worked tirelessly to bring them back to God. All of us remain sinners and in constant need of God’s merciful forgiveness and healing. We ask the Lord to show us this more fully.

Further reflection

Levi, as a tax collector in a busy trading centre, serving the detested Roman authorities, would have been ostracised by his fellow Jews. We marvel at the power of Jesus’ call and the instant positive response of Levi, who abandons everything to follow Jesus. He invites all his disreputable friends to a big party at his home. We might well suspect the sources of Levi’s wealth. Jesus has no hesitation in joining in their table fellowship. He defends his positive outreach to sinners against the self-righteous criticism of the Pharisees.

When we gather for the Eucharist we are celebrating table fellowship with Jesus: “Take this all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body. Do this in memory of me.”