As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. (Matthew 9:9)
As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. (Mark 2:14)
After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. (Luke 5:27-28)
Either he must have been such an important person or his being selected by Jesus must have been so surprising, if not shocking, that this event is mentioned in three of the Gospels.
Of course one of the Gospels is according to Matthew (Levi’s Christian name), so it’s understandable that he would have alluded to his first encounter with Jesus.
But the fact that he was working as a tax collector for either the local Jewish ruler (Herod Antipas) who was a Roman collaborator or for the Roman conquerors themselves made him an outcast, if not a traitor, in his own, Jewish community.
One thing that stands out about the story of Jesus’ calling him was the immediate nature of Levi’s response. No thinking it over, no preliminary visit to learn more about Jesus and his teaching, no submission of a resignation to his boss nor waiting for a replacement.
The next thing that stands out and is reported in all three Gospels is that Levi organizes a dinner at his house for a lot of his fellow workers and friends—by Jewish standards, sinners all—and Jesus comes!
The Pharisees, righteous, orthodox Jews, are shocked and horrified that a religious teacher like Jesus should be there.
Consorting with Gentiles is bad enough, but sitting and dining together with the likes of this group of collaborators, “sinners”, goes beyond the limits of acceptable behavior for the Pharisees.
Worst of all, Jesus is unapologetic! Referencing what the prophet Hosea (6:6) said about God desiring mercy, not sacrifice, Jesus states that “I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” (Matthew 9:13)
Jesus’ behavior was so shocking for the Pharisees, who were the really devout Jews of Jesus’ day, that, to say the least, they were puzzled how such a person could be speaking the words of God.
And, Levi’s behavior had been equally shocking for all parties concerned. Dropping all things, abandoning his post and position, asking no questions, responding on the spot to Jesus’ two-word summons, “Follow me”, seemed, to say the least, an impulsive and thoughtless act that risked his future if not his life itself.
When I was young I was deeply inspired by all this to imitate Levi. Now, very much older, more experienced, more cautious about risky and sudden decisions, I hope I still have the capacity to unquestioningly leave everything behind to follow him.
Looking back on the course of my life, yes, I know that I did once boldly choose to do it, but how dangerously slow and careful I have become.
I also know that someday I’ll be definitively confronted by that same radical decision, that same challenging demand to leave everything behind, even life itself, to follow him.
May the old song still be in my heart, “Oh, Lord, I’m ready, indeed I’m ready, Oh, good Lord, I’ll be ready when the great day comes!”
7 November 2021