Lenten Reflection Day 4 ~ Saturday after Ash Wednesday

Opening Prayers:

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, and Confiteor (see Day 1).

Scripture Reading (Luke 5:31-32):

“And Jesus answering, said to them: They that are whole need not the physician: but they that are sick. I came not to call the just, but sinners to penance.”

Reflection:

Our Lord Jesus is the Divine Physician of souls. In today’s Gospel (Luke 5:27-32), we see Him call Levi (Matthew) the tax collector to follow Him. Matthew leaves everything, hosts a great feast for Jesus, and invites many fellow tax collectors and sinners to dine with them. The Pharisees murmur that Jesus eats with sinners. The Lord responds with the beautiful words above, revealing His merciful mission: He came precisely to heal sinners, to call them to repentance and new life. This should fill us with hope and gratitude – we are the sinners He has come to heal!

On this Saturday in Lent, traditionally a day with Marian devotion, we can also reflect on how Our Blessed Mother accompanies us to the Physician. Just as in the Gospel Mary interceded for the needs of others (John 2:3) and directed people, “Do whatever He tells you” (John 2:5), so now Mary helps bring our wounded souls to Jesus and advises us to obey His call to penance. In a sense, Mary is like the nurse who assists the Doctor; she prepares our hearts with motherly care so that Christ can work His cure.

Are we aware of our soul’s ailments? Lent is a time to diagnose and treat them. The worst spiritual “sickness” is unrepented sin – mortal sin being deadly, venial sin being like a chronic infection that weakens us. We all suffer from the effects of sin and selfish habits, which is why the Sacrament of Penance (Confession) is so vital during this season. “They that are whole need not the physician, but they that are sick.” We should freely acknowledge, “Lord, I am sin-sick and in need of Your healing.” In Confession, it is truly Jesus who forgives and heals, through the ministry of the priest. He applies the medicine of His Precious Blood to our souls, restoring us to grace. If you have not yet gone to Confession recently, make plans to do so early in Lent. Do not fear; Jesus came for this! As St. Augustine joyfully noted, “God is more eager to forgive your sins than a mother is to snatch her child from a fire.” The Divine Physician is ready with infinite mercy. We need only approach Him with humility and trust.

Beyond outright sin, there are also the “wounds” that life and our own brokenness have inflicted on us – perhaps emotional wounds, memories of hurt, struggles with anger, anxiety, or discouragement. Jesus wants to heal these too. Sometimes He does so through the balm of prayer, sometimes through the help of others, often gradually as we grow in virtue. A key step is to bring all these burdens to Him in prayer. We might pray: “Lord, here is my weakness… here is where I feel broken. Please touch and heal me according to Your will.” He may not remove every struggle immediately (just as a good doctor sometimes gives therapy that takes time), but He will give grace to grow through it. An important part of the cure is also forgiveness – forgiving those who have hurt us. Unforgiveness is like a spiritual abscess that poisons us from within. Jesus wants to lance that wound and drain it by inspiring us to forgive, so that we can be free. If there is someone you need to forgive, ask Jesus today for the grace to forgive in your heart, even if the hurt still aches. That is a big step in healing.

The verse also reminds us that no one is beyond the call of Christ. He calls “sinners to penance,” all sinners, even those society writes off. Matthew and his friends were despised as corrupt, yet Jesus saw a future apostle and evangelist in Matthew. Likewise, He sees in each of us not just our sin, but our potential for holiness through His grace. We should never despair of our own salvation or that of anyone else. If there is life, there is hope for repentance. Indeed, some of the greatest saints were once great sinners – think of St. Mary Magdalene (from whom seven demons were cast out), St. Augustine (who lived a dissolute life in his youth), or St. Paul (who persecuted Christians). Each one could say with St. Paul, “This is a faithful saying… that Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners, of whom I am the chief” (1 Timothy 1:15). And each could also say, “By the grace of God, I am what I am, and His grace in me has not been void” (1 Corinthians 15:10). So be encouraged: the same grace is at work in you this Lent.

Today, reflect on the joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7). When you make a good confession or even a heartfelt act of contrition, the Heart of Jesus rejoices and angels celebrate. Every step you take away from sin and toward virtue, no matter how small, delights our Lord, who longs for your wholeness. Lent is a joyful season in this sense – joyful because spiritual healing is taking place. Penances might feel difficult in the moment, but they lead to the deep joy of reconciliation with God. As one Lenten preface in the Mass prays: “Each year You give us this joyful season when we prepare to celebrate the paschal mystery with mind and heart renewed… as we recall the great events that gave us new life in Christ.” That may sound strange – calling penance “joyful” – but it is joyful when seen as the process of our healing and liberation.

To cooperate with the Divine Physician, consider adding some spiritual medicine to your routine: perhaps read a passage of the Gospels each day (letting Jesus’ words sink in), or take 15 minutes of silent prayer to speak with the Lord about your struggles, or practice a small mortification that particularly counters a bad habit (for instance, if you tend to gossip, make a point to say something kind about others instead). These are like prescriptions from the Doctor for your spiritual health.

Also, do not be discouraged by relapses. If you fall into a sin you were trying to overcome, get up and begin again. Healing often involves ups and downs. Jesus’s mercy is not a one-time offer; He will forgive “seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22) times – i.e., without limit – if we are sincerely repentant. St. Francis de Sales gently taught: “If you happen to fall, do not lie there prostrate, but get up immediately, humble yourself and return to the grace of God… There is no better way to grow in holiness than to always begin again, and never to think that we have done enough.”

In summary, Christ is calling us sinners each day: calling us to turn away from sin (even small faults), calling us to deeper prayer, calling us to love and to holiness. Let’s respond with the eagerness of Matthew, who “left all and followed Him”. If there is any obstacle keeping you from following Jesus fully, identify it today and ask Him for the strength to leave it behind. Perhaps it’s an attachment to a particular comfort, or a lingering habit of impurity, or an unforgiven injury. Jesus is saying, “Trust Me, leave that, and come after Me.”

A helpful practice: before sleeping tonight, do a brief examination of conscience. Think over your day, thank God for any good you were able to do, and acknowledge where you sinned or failed in charity. Then make a sincere act of contrition: “O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee…” and resolve to do better tomorrow with His grace. This little daily practice is like taking your spiritual pulse and keeping the heart of the soul healthy.

Rejoice, for the Doctor is in and is already working within you! He will complete the good work He has begun (Philippians 1:6). Through penance and prayer, our soul’s health improves day by day. “Bless the Lord, O my soul… who forgiveth all thy iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases” (Psalm 102[103]:2-3). Let us bless Him indeed for coming to save us sinners.

Closing Prayers:

V: O Lord, hear my prayer.

R: And let my cry come unto Thee.

V: Let us bless the Lord.

R: Thanks be to God.

V: May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R: Amen.