February 16, 2013

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Saturday after Ash Wednesday
Lectionary: 222

Reading 1 from the Holy Book of Isaiah
Is 58:9b-14

Thus says the LORD:
If you remove from your midst oppression,
false accusation and malicious speech;
If you bestow your bread on the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted;
Then light shall rise for you in the darkness,
and the gloom shall become for you like midday;
Then the LORD will guide you always
and give you plenty even on the parched land.
He will renew your strength,
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring whose water never fails.
The ancient ruins shall be rebuilt for your sake,
and the foundations from ages past you shall raise up;
“Repairer of the breach,” they shall call you,
“Restorer of ruined homesteads.”

If you repent from your sins and turn to do good.  If you stop oppressing your neighbor and begin to be generous and merciful those who have nothing, then God will turn to you and heal your wounds and alleviate your problems.  And the people will give you honor.

If you hold back your foot on the sabbath
from following your own pursuits on my holy day;
If you call the sabbath a delight,
and the LORD’s holy day honorable;
If you honor it by not following your ways,
seeking your own interests, or speaking with maliceB
Then you shall delight in the LORD,
and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;
I will nourish you with the heritage of Jacob, your father,
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

If you begin to obey the Law of God.  If you find joy in doing good in obedience to the Word of our Lord.  Then God will give you the inheritance of the 

Responsorial Psalm Ps 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R. (11ab) Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.
Incline your ear, O LORD; answer me,
for I am afflicted and poor.
Keep my life, for I am devoted to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God.
R. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.

Teach me to do your will O Lord.  Listne to my prayers and answer me.  For I am weak and unable to to anything good.  Preserve me because I love you.  Save me because I have faith in you.  You are my God.

Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for to you I call all the day.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
R. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.

Pity me Lord and save me.  For I cry to you all day long.  Make your servant happy because to you I give my spirit.

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in kindness to all who call upon you.
Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my pleading.
R. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.

For you are  merciful and kind to all who turn to you.  Listen my God to my request, answer Lord, my cry for help.  Teach me Lord and I will follow you.

The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke
Lk 5:27-32

Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, “Follow me.”
And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him.

Jesus met a tax collector named Levi (aka St. Matthew).  He called him to come after Him.  And Levi dropped everything and followed Christ.

Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house,
and a large crowd of tax collectors
and others were at table with them.
The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying,
“Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus said to them in reply,
“Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do.
I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”

Then St. Matthew gave a great feast in honor of Jesus.  And many tax collectors attended.  But the Pharisees were troubled and asked, "how can He sit with these sinners?"  And Jesus responded to them, "The healthy do not need a doctor. But the sick do.  I have not come to call the righteous.  They are already in God's house.  I have come to call sinners to repentance. "