Breaking the Word

GOSPEL  READING  Mk 2:13-17

Calling of Levi to be his disciples is one of the interesting stories in the gospels. Jesus calls many but only the stories of five are given in the gospels. In the synoptic gospels we read the stories of the calling of Peter, Andrew, James, and John. But the stories of the other disciples are not given. May these five were active in the church from which or for which these gospel were written.

Even in the ‘calling stories’ Jesus communicates the target of his mission. He sat at table with the sinners and the tax collectors. Naturally the Pharisees were not at table with him. They would not and that is the reason that they question him. They were just observing what Jesus was doing. Jesus was  sure of what he was doing and he did that openly.

GOSPEL  READING  Mk 2:1-12

Jesus continued his teaching and preaching in the house as well. He was not doing it only in the synagogue alone. For him every place and every opportunity was an occasion to preach the word of God. People also listened to him gladly. His teaching was real and he was preaching with authority. Among the crowd there were also Pharisees. Some followed him and his teaching but there were also Pharisees who found fault with his preaching.

Jesus always rewarded the faith of the person involved or the faith of the people who were involved. All his healing miracles were the result of the expression of the faith. Also faith of one or some could heal the person who has not expressed his faith openly. The sick person is being carried and he could not probably express his faith openly but the people who carried him expressed it in their action and that was enough for Jesus.