The day when Jesus called Levi, the tax collector, the Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (cf. Luke 5:27-32)

In fact, we are all sinners, we are all sick, and we all need the healing touch of Jesus. We have all experienced different forms of dryness in our body, mind, and soul, and are in most need of Jesus’ love to nourish and to heal.

But like Levi the tax collector, we are all  called to join Jesus in healing others who are sick.

Jesus taught us that the most effective way to heal is not like the Pharisees who criticize others for their mistakes, but through love. In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25 verse 40, Jesus clearly teaches us how to repay His love for us: “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

Indeed, only love, either in receiving or giving, can heal the wounds in the depths of our souls.

Let us learn how to love, to heal the broken-hearted,  mend the wounded relationships, give a hand to the downtrodden, bear the crosses of the heavily burdened…

In the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, chapter 58 verses 9 to 11, God says, “If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.”

This Lent, let us begin this journey of mutual healing and quenching each other’s thirst.

We are all wounded souls, wounded soldiers, but through the mysterious work of the Lord Jesus, we are also wounded healers.

Let us pay special attention today to those who have been wounded or traumatized physically, emotionally or spiritually. Lord, God, please reveal to me, who are the brothers and sisters whom You want me to pay attention to today?

Today’s Prayer

Lord Jesus, now I understand that You desire to heal the deepest wounds in my heart through my willingness to follow You and as I heal others. It is just as when You called Levi the tax collector, when he left everything to follow You, his sins, his sicknesses, his spiritual dryness began to be healed. Lord Jesus, help me to learn from Levi! Let me respond to Your call today without counting the cost. And through the humble offering of my five loaves and two fishes, let me help satisfy the needs of the afflicted, so as to quench Your thirst and thus my own.

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