Word to the Wise
Saturday, February 17, 2018 - Saturday after Ash Wed.
[Isa 58:9b-14 and Luke 5:27-32]"Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners." [Luke]
Hmmmmm......to.which category does each of us belong? Are we righteous or sinners? Maaaaybeeee a little bit of both? The Pharisees and scribes considered themselves to be among the righteous and could not understand why Jesus would want to eat with tax collectors and sinners, let alone call one of them to be a close associate. When Pope Francis washed the feet of street people or non-Christians on Holy Thursday, all sorts of canonical and liturgical "tsks" were heard. OK, some folks are doing a good job of being faithful to their Christian commitment. But being faithful means also pulling out the stretchers and going out to find the folks who need the physician and bringing them to the "field hospital for the sick and wounded" as Pope Francis calls the Church.
One thing I think we would all want is to be among those "called" by Jesus. Our baptism is that call. It is a call to the kind of righteousness that leads us to love God and neighbor, not to consider ourselves superior to anyone. Lent is a time when we can think about any righteousness we might have and ask if it is doing anyone but us any good! AMEN