Saturday
29th February 2020. Read Isaiah 58:9-14, Psalm 86, and Luke 5:27-32)_
_“If you
take away from the midst of you the yoke, the pointing of the finger, and
speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the
desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your
gloom be as the noonday.” *(Isaiah 58:9-10)*_
It is so
easy to notice the speck in my neighbours’ eye but somehow, I have come to love
the log in my own eye. It is so easy to preach to others but I find it
extremely difficult to examine my conscience. I may be a very good doctor, but
if I never admit my own sickness, I could die without medical attention.
Isaiah
mentions the pointing of the finger and speaking of wickedness among the sins which
God hates, sins which nullify our fasting and prayer. This was the sin of the
Pharisees who not only accused Levi of being a sinner but accused Jesus of
doing what was evil by eating with sinners.
The
Pharisees failed to realize that in converting a sinner, showing them love
works magic. And this is exactly what Jesus was doing. Isaiah tells us this
morning to: “pour ourselves out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the
afflicted that our light my rise in the darkness.” Do you know that you could
convert more souls by showing them kindness than by judging and condemning them?
Like Levi,
Jesus is inviting us to dine with him this season of Lent; to leave our past
behind, to restore all that we have stolen, to return all that we have
defrauded, to rebuild the bridges we have burnt, to cease from the bad habits
we have formed; to bring our friends to Jesus.
As we say
in the Stations of the Cross, “no matter what my past has been, I can begin anew.”
Go for confession. Receive the love that Jesus is offering you. Begin afresh. Question
for today: “What are those things I can do to restore my friendship with Jesus?”
Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, may I wholly follow you leaving sin behind. Amen.
*Be Happy.
Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saturday after
Ash Wednesday. Bible Study: Isaiah 58:9-14, Psalm 86, and Luke 5:27-32).*
Fr. Abu
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