Jesus Came to Call Sinners

Homily for Saturday in the First Week of Ordinary Time

Fr. Andrew Greeley once made a comment about someone who was looking for a perfect community. “Sure, look for it. If you find it, realize that the moment you join it, that community is no longer perfect.”

Being a member of any community means joining a group of untidy and messed up people like you and me who continually fail to live up to the ideal. This is, in fact, the very definition of the Church. As our Holy Father Pope Francis has reminded us every so often, he is a sinner; we are all sinners. It is for the likes of us that Jesus became one of us.

Today’s Scriptures tell us the stories of two individuals who are called unexpectedly. The First Book of Samuel presents us with the “Reader’s Digest” version of chapter nine. Saul is actually out doing his father’s bidding looking for his herd of asses. Little did he realize that God was using this opportunity to anoint him as leader of the children of Israel! He is to govern them and to save them from the grasp of their enemies. We read this first part of the story of Saul with a little sadness as we know the end of the story. It does not end well for him.

On the other hand, we have the story of Levi, a tax collector, a Roman collaborator, hated by his fellow countrymen. Unlike the story of Saul and Samuel, there is no conversation between Jesus and Levi. Jesus simply says “Follow me,” and Levi chooses to follow. However, his call is just as unexpected as is the call of Saul. This story, we are happy to say, ends happily as tradition tells us that Levi goes on to become one of the disciples. Traditionally, we identify him as Matthew who becomes one of the four evangelists. However, we must stop and remember that he and all the disciples abandoned Jesus in his hour of need.

If the stories themselves do not make the point clearly enough, then Jesus’ proclamation when he overhears the scribes and Pharisees complaining to his disciples makes it clear. Jesus came to call sinners. Jesus came to call us. The great sacrament of reconciliation that is the Eucharist was left behind by Jesus to constantly recall us to God.