Come to Call
Saturday After Ash Wednesday
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Luke 5:27-32 - 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. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus said to them in reply, “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.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“He said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
Jesus comes to call Matthew right in the midst of Matthew’s work. Matthew probably wouldn’t have chosen this as the opportune time for the Lord to show up and ask him to come along. Nevertheless, that is when Jesus comes to him, and Matthew has a choice to make. The Lord isn’t much concerned with waiting for what we feel is the perfect time: when we feel like when we have more time, when our finances are better set up, when school is out, when we’re less busy, when we’re not as tired. The Lord just shows up, and we, like Matthew, have to make a choice.
“Follow me.” That’s all Matthew gets. We shouldn’t expect much more. Jesus doesn’t say where He’ll lead us. He doesn’t say what we’ll need in the process. He doesn’t tell us what will happen along the way. He just says, “Follow me.” We know where the Christian journey ends—heaven! But Christ doesn’t assure us of anything along the way…that is, except Himself. Ask St. Matthew to intercede in bringing you the boldness—the love, to follow Christ. Beg the Lord: “Help me to love you more, and therefore to follow you!”
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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