FOLLOW JESUS

Sermon#2 January 15, 2022 Saturday of the First week in Ordinary Time Year C Mark 2:13-17 Today’s gospel is reminding us of this wonderful truth: Jesus came not for the righteous but for the sinners. This is of greatnews because it is telling us that we are God’s favorite. We are God’s preferential option. He loves sinners like you and me. The call of Levi reminds us of three important points. First, God does not want us to be perfect. He just want us to follow him. Friends, perfection is not a requirement to follow the Lord. Hence, don’t strive for perfection. Never be discouraged with your imperfections and limitations because that’s precisely the main reason why Jesus came. “I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” Second, when we decide to follow the Lord expect some rejections, criticisms and persecutions. Not all will be happy with your decision. Your friends will mocked you, laughed at joy and ostracized you but don’t worry because God is on your side. If you have God, that’s what matter most. Job lost everthing but God returned it beyond his expectation. He was blessed abundantly. Joseph lost his entire family but God place him in the palace of Egypt. He was an instrument of saving Canaan from severe hunger. His brothers sold him but Jospeh ended up king. Levi lost his job but he found the Lord. Friends, if you have God you have everything! Having the Lord is having everything. Finally, when we found the Lord always celebrate. Have a party. Like Levi, rejoice and invite the Lord to dine with you. Friends, the Eucharist is always a party because it is a wonderful celebration where in the sinner and Saviour met. The Eucharist is an encounter of the mercy of God towards the sinners. Love triumphs over sins. The Eucharist is a vissible proof of the supremacy of God’s love to the imperfect. You onow what, the happiest time of my life is when I decided to follow the Lord. I have no regrets of my decision. The best decision I ever made. Blessings Fr. Jhack

I AM GOD’S FAVORITE!

January 15, 2022 Saturday of the First week in Ordinary Time Year C Mark 2:13-17 In today’s gospel Jesus calls a man named Levi, a tax collector. Collecting tax during the time of Jesus is the most hated profession. Tax collectors were labelled as “beast in human form.” People hates them because they were greedy, dishonest, extortionist and corrupt. They were looked upon as traitors. Often, they over-collected and keeping the surplus for themselves. The calling of Levi is a great reminder for all of us: For Jesus what matter most is you, not your sins. What God knows about us is more important than what others thinks of us. God knows your heart and that’s all that really matters. Today’s gospel shows us that Jesus loves the most despised individual. He befriend the unfriendly, He welcomes the unwelcomed and pickup the unlikely. “I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.” The call is very simple; just two words, “Follow me.” He does not expect us to be perfect, he just want us to follow Him. This is an invitation to build up relationship with Him. Friends, perfection is not a requirement to follow the Lord. When we met Jesus like Levi, let us leave our old sinful lifestyle. Levi lost his job but he found the Lord. Its like in our first reading for today. The donkey of Kish was lost but Samuel found the crown. Friends, when we found Jesus get ready to have a party. Celebrate! But I warned you my dear friends because when we associate with sinners you will always met rejections and criticisms. There will be religious hypocrites who will attact you but dont worry because our God is a scandalous Saviour. He came for you and for me and not for the righteous. We, sinners are the recepient of God’s mercy. If God has a favorite I think its you, I bet! NB: You may not perfect but God loves you. Never be discouraged with your imperfections because that’s the reason why Jesus came. Blessings Fr. Jhack