“Follow me.” These are the two simple yet powerful words Jesus spoke to Levi. The Gospel does not indicate that Levi asked him any questions. Where was Jesus leading him? Where was Jesus going? What would Levi be required to do? He knew Jesus was the Lord, and he trusted him.

The Gospel tells us that Jesus proceeded to the table and sat with his disciples, tax collectors, and sinners. We read that the Pharisees were confused with the very idea that Jesus would dine with sinners, and Jesus responded to them by telling them that he did not come to call the righteous; instead, he came to call sinners.

We, too, are invited to gather at the Lord’s table. All of us sinners, all of us responding to the invitation extended to Levi. “Follow me.” And, like Levi, we may not know where we are going, do we? Often, we get an answer to that question after we respond. How often can we look back through the memories of our life journey and see how God led us through times of sadness, confusion, fear, or despair? Looking back now, we may even see the face of someone God led us to who needed us or someone we needed.

In a letter to Father Eymard’s fellow religious, Father Paul Marie Marechal, SSS, he wrote, “Find God in the calm and peace of solitude. Enjoy God in his goodness to you and follow the path of his divine providence …”

Can we silence our thoughts for a few moments and seek the voice of God speaking to us through our prayer? Perhaps God will speak to us in a whisper or through someone we meet today. Maybe we will hear his voice when we least expect it.

Prayer:

Thank you for this day, my God. Yes, Lord, I will follow you. Thank you for inviting me to serve you. Open my heart to be aware of your prompting and show me how to serve you. I pray that you will make me a joyful and generous servant willing to give of myself to anyone and in any way today. Amen.