A Homily on Mark 2:13-17: God sees not as man sees… (17/01/2026)

 A reflection on Mark 2:13-17 : Reminding us of the When Love Calls the Broken (17-1-25)

Praise be to Jesus Christ!

There was a craftsman who worked tirelessly on a rough, shapeless block of stone. One day, his wife watched him and asked, “Why are you spending so much time on this ordinary stone? It looks useless.” The craftsman smiled and replied, “I don’t see an ordinary stone. I see the angel hidden inside.” After months of labour, the block of marble was transformed into a breath-taking statue, admired by all who saw it.

In today’s Gospel, we see Jesus as the divine craftsman.  He looks at Levi, a tax collector scorned by society, and sees not his flaws but his potential. While others see a sinner, Jesus sees a future disciple, a great evangelist, and a saint. With just two words, “Follow me,” Jesus changes Levi’s life forever.

This reminds us of the powerful truth: God sees not as man sees. While humans often focus on a person’s past, God focuses on their future. As the famous saying goes, “Every sinner  has a future, as many saints had a sinful past.”

We see this pattern throughout Scripture. David was a shepherd boy overlooked by his family but chosen by God to be a king. Mary Magdalene was once possessed by seven demons but became one of the first witnesses to the resurrection. St. Paul persecuted Christians but was transformed into one of the greatest apostles.

When we judge others, we limit them to their mistakes and rob them of the chance to change. St. Teresa of Calcutta beautifully said, “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” Jesus did not judge Levi by his sins. Instead, He called Levi with love and gave him a new purpose.

Levi responded immediately. He left everything and followed Jesus, hosting a feast to celebrate his new life. This shows us that Jesus not only forgives but invites us into a deeper relationship with Him. He calls us to leave behind what holds us back; our fears, doubts, and sins and trust in His mercy.

This Gospel challenges us to see others and ourselves through the eyes of Jesus. Every sinner carries the potential for greatness. If we approach people with love instead of judgment, we can help them discover the beauty God has placed within them.

It also calls us to trust that God sees more in us than we see in ourselves. Like Levi, we may feel unworthy. But Jesus sees past our failures and calls us to follow Him because He believes in our potential.

Today, let us ask ourselves: Are we looking at others with sight or insight? Do we see only their mistakes, or do we see the angel within, as the sculptor did? Will we trust Jesus enough to say “yes” to His call, like Levi?

Let us pray for the grace to love as Jesus loves, so we may help others uncover the saint hidden within. When we do, we join Jesus in the beautiful work of transforming lives.

Oh Jesus, Heal our hearts with your mercy to love you more dearly…

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God Bless…