In our first reading today from the book of Samuel, Saul is anointed by Samuel as “commander of the Lord’s heritage” – that is, king – to govern the Lord’s people Israel, to save them from the grasp of their enemies roundabout.
The people wanted a king – and so now they have one. The significant part of this story is the “anointing” – Samuel pours oil on Saul’s head, and commissions him! This prefigures the later time when Jesus would have oil poured over him by Mary Magdalen, as a preparation for his death and burial – where he will show himself to be Priest, Prophet and King! It also prefigures our own anointing at baptism – when we share Christ’s role as Priest, Prophet and King.
Jesus was anointed as “commander of his Father’s heritage,” and commissioned to govern the Lord’s people [the new] Israel, and to save them from the grasp of their [spiritual] enemies roundabout!
In the gospel passage – Jesus, true King of Israel, and indeed the whole world – confuses the religious leaders of his day by calling a tax collector to be an intimate follower, and by associating with persons of questionable character and repute: public sinners of a variety of sorts.
Jesus uses the opportunity of dining at Levi’s house to announce that he has come into the world to call sick people and not well ones; he came to call sinners, not righteous people! And he knows, and we need to come to know, that we are all sick, we are all sinners, we are all in need of his mercy, compassion and forgiveness. Only residing in the ocean of his mercy and forgiveness will we reside in the ocean of peace provided by God the Father – one day in eternity!
“The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim liberty to captives.” We thank you Lord for looking on us in our poverty, and for releasing and saving us! Help us to spread this “good news” to all we meet today!
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