“As the tree is known by its fruits, so they who claim to belong to Christ are known by their actions; for this work of ours does not consist in just making professions, but in a faith that is both practical and lasting.”
READ: LUKE 5:27–39
When he went out after this, he noticed a tax collector, Levi by name, sitting by the customs house, and said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything he got up and followed him. In his honor Levi held a great reception in his house, and with them at table was a large gathering of tax collectors and others. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples and said, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus said to them in reply, “It is not those who are well who need the doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the virtuous, but sinners to repentance.” They then said to him, “John’s disciples are always fasting and saying prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees too, but yours go on eating and drinking.” Jesus replied, “Surely you cannot make the bridegroom’s attendants fast while the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come, the time for the bridegroom to be taken away from them; that will be the time when they will fast.” He also told them this parable, “No one tears a piece from a new cloak to put it on an old cloak; if he does, not only will he have torn the new one, but the piece taken from the new will not match the old. And nobody puts new wine into old skins; if he does, the new wine will burst the skins and then run out, and the skins will be lost. No; new wine must be put into fresh skins. And nobody who has been drinking old wine wants new. ‘The old is good,’ he says.”
YOUR THREE-STEP GUIDE TO DAILY MENTAL PRAYER
REFLECT
St. Luke paints a vivid picture of the encounter between Jesus and Levi. Jesus is walking downtown, probably with His disciples, and sees Levi there at his office. Luke says that Jesus “noticed a tax collector, Levi by name.” Isn’t it just like Jesus to notice someone — what a torrent of instruction rushes out of that one little verb! It means that the Lord is always on the lookout. It means that Jesus is thinking not of Himself but of us and of our needs. It means that He recognizes the needs and desires and yearnings of our hearts. Jesus notices this unhappy tax collector, a social pariah, and calls him, renews his life, and gives him a mission and a meaning.
That’s what Jesus does. He is the doctor of every soul; He detects our every need and hope, and He prescribes the perfect medicine. He is the bridegroom of every heart; He gazes on us with personal, determined love and leads us into the everlasting adventure of indescribable intimacy and communion with God. Jesus is a friend, true — but what a friend He is, and what great friends He teaches us to be!
RESPOND
Lord, sometimes I wonder why You keep asking me for more, why You keep sending me more crosses, more missions. Why can’t we relax and take it easy? I know the answer: because You love me too much, and You love every person too much — You suffered and died to win us grace, and You want that grace to fill us and lead us to true meaning and lasting happiness. Lord Jesus, I trust in You.
REST
I remember the first time I heard Your voice in my heart. I was like Levi, living an average life, wanting more but not knowing where to find it. And You noticed me. You notice me every day, every moment. Give me a heart like Yours, one that responds, like Levi, to Your every wish and, in turn, reaches out to others as You have reached out to me. Teach me, Lord.
RESOLVE
How can I carry this encounter with me into the day? (Write / Journal)
CLOSING PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Most Blessed and Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank You for Your love and Your grace in allowing me this time of prayer with You.
The world, the flesh, and the devil will all propose things I should focus on and run after today. I beg You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me instead to know and embrace Your will. Help me to see what You desire of me each moment of this day. Give me the wisdom, strength, and fortitude I need to avoid distractions, discern Your will, and focus on and carry out that which Wisdom reveals. Help me to work and live at a pace of peace and prayerfulness, always attentive to You, able to hear Your voice and to say no to anything that hinders my journey to You and a complete yes to every Holy prompting from You.
Help me to humbly and purposefully live, light, and lead others to the path of union with You and to tell everyone about this way of life. Amen.
About the Author
Fr. John Bartunek was ordained in 2003. He has taught moral theology at various ecclesiastical institutions at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and has authored many books, including the Gospel companion, The Better Part, and Inside the Passion, the only authorized behind-the-scenes look at the film, for which he provided on-set spiritual support. His online retreat guides are available in multiple formats at RCSpirituality.org. Fr. John currently resides in Atlanta, where he is serving as territorial vicar for the Legionaries of Christ.
