Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Saturday after Ash Wednesday, March 8, 2025

Delivered by Father Peter Tukan, SDB from Salesian Don Bosco Gerak in the Diocese of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Isaiah 58: 9b-14; Rs psalm 86: 1-2.3-4.5-6; Luke 5: 27-32GOD CALLS SINNERS The theme for our meditation today is: God CallsSinners. There is a local Station chairman in a remote parish told about hisexperience facing his people. When he met someone who in his opinion had noproblems between them, or who had no particular conflict, the chairman of theStation felt very comfortable with the meeting and the talking engaged. He feltcalm and enjoyable in speaking. He freely used all his communication skills sothat his interlocutor felt at home and comfortable. It is very different when he had to deal with peoplewho were being bullied, sick, conflicted, desperate, tension of a husband and hiswife, and those who were struggling with sin. Often he lost direction and focuson where angle to start or what kind of solution to give. That father of threechildren was always haunted by a lack of confidence about his advice and viewsto be a good solution for people who are in trouble. So he often chose to avoidfacing things that were complicated and those of serious problems. Hedeliberately let it go or just postponed it. The problem of discomfort, fear, doubt or difficultyfacing problems in ourselves or others  arecommon to many people. We all have this weakness, which is a sense ofinadequacy, lack of preparation, helplessness, or lack of experience. This isvery different from God's power. God is omnipotent and perfect. He intervenesand solves all problems, difficulties and pains in humans and the world as awhole. One of His actions is as described in the Gospel reading we have justheard.  He is not the God who has problems, but the God whofaces the problems of humans and the world and He solves them. God does notretreat or be afraid even for sinners both the light and heavy ones. To Levi thetax collector and every other sinner, God's real act is to call him.Furthermore, after they heard and surrendered themselves to Him, God willinglyentered into the sinner’s home, interacted him and lived with him. God has thepower to transform His people to become new again. He even chooses and raisesus to be His beloved sons and daughters. He made us disciples of His Son JesusChrist. In this period of Lent, one of our individual andcommon duties is to recognize and repent of our sins. The prophet Isaiah in hisbook asks us to always be aware of our deeds. If we are guilty, we must admitit. If we are right and good, we must admit it as well. When God calls or meetsus, we can no longer compromise or argue. We can only accept that call, followit, and accept what it wants from us.Let us pray. In the name of the Father... O God of allmercies, we are sinners, so accept our confession and repentance. Renew usalways. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit ... Inthe name of the Father...