On the first day of Lent, my true love gave to me… ok, I don’t think that song works for Lent either. It’s interesting to see the pattern in the readings to remind us. The first day of Lent, God gave us ashes on our forehead to remind us that we need to repent and change our ways. The second day, Jesus said that the only way we could become His disciples would be to deny ourselves. Yesterday, the third day, Jesus said that our hearts must be in our fasting. Indicating that if we followed our own desires and wants, and not the will of the Father, our fasting would be worthless. Now today, He says our fasting will have great rewards if we just get out of the habit of “doing our own thing.”
That is the interesting thing about the Gospel today, where Jesus calls Matthew/Levi. Here is a man who is definitely doing his own thing. The tax collectors were considered traitors who had sold their own country out to the Romans. Matthew would gather the taxes for the Romans, and add some on top to make his own money. Jesus points to Matthew and says follow me. Matthew gets up, leaving behind all of his own wants and desires, and takes what money he has and throws a party for Jesus. He gives it to Him, instead of to his own selfish desires.
Society would tell you: “You do you, and I’ll do me.” Jesus instead says become perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect. It is not enough to be a “good person.” We have to become little Christs. The only way we will ever do that is to spend time fasting, praying, almsgiving, and receiving the Sacraments. That is what the Church is trying to teach us in Lent and that is why the Holy Spirit has inspired the readings in this order at the very beginning. Just like Matthew, we must find the strength to step forward out of own preoccupations and follow Jesus. Are you ready to drop those things holding you back and walk away with Jesus?
A reflection on the readings for Saturday after Ash Wednesday, Year 1: March 9, 2019