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Saturday after Ash Wednesday
Isaiah 58:9 B
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14
Psalm 86:1
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2, 3
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4, 5
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6
Luke 5:27
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32
S
UMMARY
The first reading describes how we will be blessed if we act as
God wishes us to: to deal justly with other people, to give food to
the hungry, and to honor the Sabbath. In the Gospel reading, Je-
sus is criticized for interacting with tax collectors and responds
that “
I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sin-
ners.
”
R
EFLECTION
The first reading ex-
horts us to live up to
high standards and
promises
blessings
should we do
so. That is a
challenging
and daunting
call to action.
Who can
measure up?
After hearing this, the Gospel reading is “good news” in-
deed. Jesus tells us that no matter how much we fail, we
are still “in”: we are still beloved children of God. After all,
even the despised tax collectors
–
who earn their living
by taking more than people owe
–
are not “out.” What