Saturday after Ash Wednesday

• First Reading – Isaiah 58:9b-14: The LORD calls for ending oppression and aiding the needy, promising guidance, prosperity, and restoration. Honoring the Sabbath leads to joy in the LORD and a revered legacy, fulfilling God’s covenant.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 86: I implore the Lord for protection and mercy, trusting in His goodness. I ask for His guidance and truth to live a life aligned with His will, confident in His unfailing love.
• Gospel – Luke 5:27-32: Jesus called Levi, a tax collector, to follow him, and Levi immediately abandoned his post to do so. Hosting a feast for Jesus, Levi invited many tax collectors and others, which prompted criticism from the Pharisees and scribes. Jesus defended his actions by highlighting his mission to reach out to those in need of spiritual healing, emphasizing his focus on calling sinners to repentance rather than mingling with the self-perceived righteous.

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.

Luke 5:31-32

The readings for the Saturday after Ash Wednesday present several interconnected themes that are especially relevant as we begin the Lenten journey. Reflecting on these themes can provide valuable insights for personal reflection and community discussions during this period of preparation for Easter. Here are the key themes:

1. Call to Social Justice and Compassion: Isaiah’s message emphasizes the importance of social justice—ending oppression, feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, and clothing the naked. This call to action serves as a reminder that our spiritual practices should have tangible impacts on the lives of those around us, especially the most vulnerable.
2. Promise of Divine Guidance and Blessing: The readings assure us of God’s guidance, protection, and blessings when we live according to His commands. Isaiah speaks of light breaking forth like the dawn and the Lord guiding us continually, promising restoration and prosperity for those who act justly.
3. The Importance of the Sabbath: Honoring the Sabbath is highlighted as a source of joy and blessing. It’s a time to refrain from our own interests and focus on the Lord, which brings delight and honors God’s covenant.
4. Mercy and Forgiveness: The responsorial Psalm and the Gospel emphasize God’s mercy and forgiveness. The Psalmist seeks God’s guidance and steadfast love, while in the Gospel, Jesus exemplifies this mercy by reaching out to sinners, showing that God’s love is inclusive and transformative.
5. Call to Repentance and Transformation: Jesus’ call to Levi and his interaction with tax collectors and sinners in the Gospel illustrate the theme of personal transformation. It highlights the Lenten call to conversion, inviting us to leave behind our old ways and follow Christ more closely.
6. Inclusivity and Outreach: Jesus’ actions in the Gospel challenge social norms and invite us to consider how we, too, can extend our table to include those often marginalized or considered unworthy. This theme encourages us to reflect on how we can be more inclusive in our own communities.

These themes for the Saturday after Ash Wednesday set the tone for Lent, emphasizing not just personal piety but also the social dimensions of our faith. They invite us to reflection, action, and a deeper commitment to living out the Gospel in our daily lives.

Today’s Gospel, featuring the calling of Levi by Jesus, stands as a profound narrative that illuminates the essence of Jesus’ mission and the radical inclusivity of His love. In a society where tax collectors were vilified and marginalized, Jesus’ choice to not only call Levi but to also dine with him and his fellow tax collectors was revolutionary. It directly challenged the prevailing social and religious norms, showcasing Jesus’ disregard for societal boundaries in favor of embodying God’s boundless mercy and love.

The act of Jesus choosing Levi, a man scorned by his community, underscores a critical lesson about the nature of divine grace. It reminds us that grace is not a reward for the righteous but a gift freely offered to all, especially to those who recognize their own brokenness and need for salvation. Jesus’ response to the Pharisees’ criticism, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance,” is a powerful declaration of His mission to heal and redeem, not to condemn.

This narrative invites us to reflect on our own attitudes towards those who society deems unworthy or sinful. It challenges us to ask ourselves if we, like Jesus, are willing to look beyond the surface and see the inherent worth and potential for redemption in every person. Are we open to extending grace and forgiveness to those who are often excluded or judged harshly by society?

Furthermore, the story of Levi’s calling is a testament to the transformative power of Jesus’ love. Levi’s immediate response to Jesus’ invitation, leaving everything behind to follow Him, signifies a profound personal transformation. It shows us that encountering Jesus can compel us to radically change our lives, priorities, and relationships. It also illustrates the joy and eagerness with which we should embrace our own calling, regardless of our past or how others perceive us.

In aligning this with the first reading from Isaiah, where we are called to act justly and to serve those in need, we find a complementary message of social justice and personal transformation. Both readings together invite us to not only seek personal conversion but also to engage in actions that reflect God’s love and justice in the world. They encourage us to be agents of change, working to end oppression and to aid those in need, just as we strive to see the good in everyone and to offer forgiveness and acceptance.

As we reflect on this Gospel passage, let us contemplate how we can embody the inclusive and transformative love of Jesus in our own lives. May we be inspired to reach out to those on the margins, to offer forgiveness freely, and to welcome all into our hearts and communities. Let us remember that in following Jesus, we are called to be a community of love and redemption, a place where all are invited, accepted, and transformed by the grace of God.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, help me to see the good in all people, especially those who are considered outcasts or sinners in our church and in society. May I always be ready to forgive and seek forgiveness, and strive to turn away from my own sins and follow you. Amen.

Word on Fire: Grace Unbidden

Bishop Robert Barron reflects on the Gospel story of Jesus calling Matthew, a despised tax collector, to follow Him. Emphasizing that grace is unearned and comes without prior merit or request, Barron highlights the transformative power of Jesus’ call. Through the lens of Caravaggio’s painting, the moment of Matthew’s incredulous response and subsequent conversion is seen as a new creation, illustrating the profound, unexplained grace that invites even the most unlikely to follow Jesus.

USCCB Reflection: Spending God’s Time

The USCCB reflection for the Saturday after Ash Wednesday draws inspiration from a Franciscan priest’s practice of reminding us that our time belongs to God. It emphasizes the Lenten invitation to evaluate how we’re using God’s gift of time, urging us to focus on justice, care for the poor, and our reliance on God. Through the readings, including Isaiah’s call to justice and the Gospel’s account of Levi’s immediate response to Jesus, we’re encouraged to embrace healing, reconciliation, mercy, and justice, marking our time by God’s work and seeking ways to spend our lives in alignment with His will.

What date is the Saturday after Ash Wednesday?

The next date is Saturday March 8, 2025.

What are the Mass readings for the Saturday after Ash Wednesday?

The Mass readings for Saturday March 8, 2025 are:
First Reading  – Isaiah 58:9b-14: Promise for Righteous Acts
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 86: Seeking God’s Guidance
Gospel – Luke 5:27-32: Levi’s Call and Response

What is the significance of the first reading for the Saturday after Ash Wednesday?

The first reading from Isaiah for the Saturday after Ash Wednesday calls for social justice and compassion. It emphasizes ending oppression, aiding the needy, and observing the Sabbath, promising guidance, prosperity, and restoration for those who act justly.

How does the first reading for the Saturday after Ash Wednesday relate to the Lenten season?

The first reading highlights themes of justice, compassion, and renewal, which are central to the Lenten season. It encourages individuals to reflect on their actions and commitments to social justice as part of their Lenten observance.

What message does Jesus convey in the Gospel reading for the Saturday after Ash Wednesday?

In the Gospel reading, Jesus calls Levi, a tax collector, to follow Him, demonstrating His mission to call sinners to repentance rather than the self-perceived righteous. It underscores the inclusivity of Jesus’ message and His focus on mercy and transformation.

Why did Jesus choose to dine with tax collectors and sinners in the Gospel for the Saturday after Ash Wednesday?

Jesus dined with tax collectors and sinners to illustrate His mission of extending grace and forgiveness to those most in need of spiritual healing. This act challenged societal norms and emphasized His commitment to reaching the marginalized.

What can we learn from Levi’s response to Jesus’ call in the Gospel for the Saturday after Ash Wednesday?

Levi’s immediate decision to follow Jesus upon being called highlights the transformative power of responding to God’s call with openness and willingness. It teaches us the importance of being ready to leave behind our past and embrace a new path of discipleship.

How does the theme of social justice in Isaiah relate to Jesus’ actions in the Gospel for the Saturday after Ash Wednesday?

The theme of social justice in Isaiah complements Jesus’ actions by emphasizing the importance of action and compassion in faith. Just as Isaiah calls for aid to the needy, Jesus practices this compassion by associating with those deemed outcasts, showing that faith must be lived out through acts of justice and mercy.

What is the message of hope in the first reading for the Saturday after Ash Wednesday?

The message of hope is that by engaging in acts of compassion and justice, we are promised divine guidance, prosperity, and restoration. It assures us that living in accordance with God’s will brings light and healing.

How does Jesus’ interaction with the Pharisees in the Gospel for the Saturday after Ash Wednesday challenge us today?

Jesus’ interaction with the Pharisees challenges us to examine our own attitudes towards those society labels as “sinners” and to practice a faith that embraces mercy over judgment, inviting us to extend forgiveness and welcome to all.

What does the call to repentance in the Gospel for the Saturday after Ash Wednesday mean for us during Lent?

The call to repentance reminds us that Lent is a time for personal reflection, acknowledging our sins, and turning towards a life more aligned with Jesus’ teachings. It’s an invitation to grow in holiness and to prepare our hearts for Easter.

How can we apply the lessons from the readings for the Saturday after Ash Wednesday in our daily lives?

We can apply the lessons by actively seeking justice, showing compassion to the marginalized, observing times of rest and worship, and being open to transformation in our own lives. These readings encourage us to live out our faith through actions that reflect God’s love and mercy to the world.