Gospel Reading for January 18, 2025 – Mark 2: 13-17
SINLESS
Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”And he got up and followed Jesus. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus heard this and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
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Jesus never forced himself on us, but if we recognize our need of him, then we will benefit from his gift of salvation. How blessed are we that God in his great love, made sure there is a way for us to still gain eternal life, even though we are sinners. Rejecting his gift of salvation will bring us to eternal damnation, therefore we are the ones to bring it upon ourselves. It is such great folly to believe that we are SINLESS, because then, we will never recognize our need of God!
Thank you, Father! Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, Spirit! Know that we are always in need of you!
