8 March 2025 - Only By Grace Reflections

TOPIC: DO I SHARE THE JOY OF OUR DISCIPLESHIP WITH OTHERS?

First Reading: Isaiah 58: 9b-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 86: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Verse Before the Gospel: Ezekiel 33: 11
Gospel: Luke 5: 27-32

As we begin Lent, the Church reminds us through this Gospel passage that Jesus always takes the first step towards us. Levi, better known as St. Matthew, was perhaps a bit confused when he heard Jesus’ call.  Indeed, we should all feel like that. We haven’t earned the grace to follow Jesus. It’s a free gift given with immeasurable love. As with Levi, this call challenges us to abandon the comfort zone of spiritual mediocrity for something much greater.  In calling Levi to be one of His disciples, Jesus picked one of the unlikeliest of men⏤a tax collector, someone most likely despised by the Jewish people.
 
Levi shared the joy of discipleship with others, hosting a great banquet for Jesus. The overflowing grace of repentance that Levi reflected was already evangelizing those around him. Jesus would say later to the chief priests: “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.” Levi was first in the line of Jesus’ converts, and he communicated the grace Jesus gave him to others. Therein lies an important goal for our Lent: to send out ripple effects of the graces we receive.

This is the 1778th installment of our CFC contemplation series focusing on the daily liturgical readings.

[NOTE: Let us listen to our brother Solphie Confiado, Country Coordinator for CFC Egypt, as he brings us today's reflection.

All the regular reflections are between 3-7 minutes long, enough time for us to ponder what God's message is for us individually and to pray that we may live them out in our lives. This video