Jesus went out and 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. 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.”   

"We’ve all seen a man at the liquor store beggin’ for your change. The hair on his face is dirty, dread-locked, and full of mange. He asks a man for what he could spare, with shame in his eyes. 'Get a job, you slob' is all he replies. God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in his shoes ‘cause then you really might know what it’s like to sing the blues. And then you really might know what it’s like. Mary got pregnant from a kid named Tom who said he was in love. He said, 'Don’t worry about a thing, baby doll, I’m the man you’ve been dreamin’ of.' But three months later he said he won’t date her or return her call. And then she heads for the clinic and she gets some static walkin’ through the doors. They call her a killer. God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in her shoes."

Jesus did not come to this earth to help “self-righteous” people because they could not be helped—they had their minds closed and would only listen to themselves. But he came to call sinners to repentance or a change of heart. Levi was an extortionist, a sinner, and Jesus called him to a change of heart. He told Levi to “follow” him, to adopt his thoughts, words and actions, so that he could be healed, the way a doctor would heal a sick person. Levi, showing his true character, left everything in order to follow Jesus.

The explicit song “What It’s Like” by Everlast is one of the strongest statements by modern music calling people to a change of heart. The song is about walking in other people’s shoes, and realizing how difficult some people have it in life. The idea is that if we understand how difficult it is for others, it should lead us to a change of heart. "Then you really might know what it’s like," and once you know, you will change your own behavior, and perhaps want to help others in need rather than judge them.
 
We do not need to leave everything in order to change our hearts, nor do we have to study every problem that human beings suffer, but we have to be aware of what is happening around us and we have to be aware of ourselves. In many ways, it is not a "pretty" world that we live in because evil is not "pretty." People can be evil and downright mean. They must be called to a change of heart, and such a call begins with the possibility that we need to change before anyone else.                  

THOUGHT
What group of people in our world need the most help?

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son constantly calls us to a change of heart. May we bring about a change in ourselves by realizing the good that we have, and understanding that others truly need our help. Be with us, we pray.  

Questions, comments? Let me know. Email Fr. Mike

©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America