Saturday after Ash Wednesday.

"Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and necessities stretch forth your right hand to help and defend us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."

Psalm 86:1-11, Isaiah 58:9b-14, and Luke 5:27-32

The Gospel for today is another version of yesterday's passage from Matthew. Here, though, we've got a couple of things that stand out. First of all is the naming of the person who Jesus calls, and second is Jesus's words to the Pharisees at the end.

Levi was a tax collector, and Jesus called him away from this life. Upon being called we're told that Levi "got up, left everything, and followed [Jesus]." Rejoicing in his new life, Levi held a "great banquet" for Jesus and his friends. With Levi we see a man who left everything he had behind and gave what was left to Jesus as they shared a great meal together along with whomever else might have dropped by for that great feast.

While dining with Levi and these other tax collectors, Jesus's actions are again questioned by the Pharisees. As in the other accounts of the same story, Jesus answers the questions and accusations of them. Luke's narrative, though, adds a twist. Jesus says, "I have come not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." This last part of "to repentance" appears only in Luke's version, and it's an interesting piece to have alongside the naming of Levi and the great feast that he offered.

Naming Levi and showing Levi's work and calling "sinners to repentance" underscores Luke's message that a life spent following Jesus is a changed life, one in which we are called to do more than simply follow. Instead, we are called to follow AND do.

Just a few days into our Lenten journey, the first Saturday of the long season, we might already be wondering, "Why'd I opt for this?!" We follow the ritual of Lent because of the tradition around it, and that's kind of the easy part. A Lenten fast or discipline, though, is the "doing" part, the piece that requires change and effort on our part, more than simply remembering not to say the "A" word during worship.

Change is difficult, and change comes slowly and deliberately. May we be open to God's grace as we continue to hope to be changed this season.