Jesus’ Follow Me and the Connection with the Lenten Season

Fr. Hugh Gillespie, SMM

Follow Me!

The Gospel today has the very essence of Lent wrapped up in its words. It talks about Levi the tax collector. The Gospel has Jesus pointing to Levi and saying come, Follow Me. The Church desires for each one of us to see ourselves within this story.

Jesus says to Levi, Follow Me. This actually means for Levi, put down the money, stop what you are doing, and Follow Me! Jesus doesn’t sit down. He tells Levi, with the words Follow Me, to get up and move.

Follow Me! What does that mean, when Jesus says these words? Jesus meets us, wherever we are. When He says these words, Levi needs to get up and leave his comfortable surroundings. He must go to where Jesus is and where He is going.

Over the Lenten Season, the Church asks us all to discipline our willfulness. That is the point of the penitential practices. He wants to takes us to someplace better. Find out how the words Follow Me and the Lenten Season are connected within this Meditation Media.

The Calling of St. Matthew: Italian Painter: Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, : 1599-1600

This painting is unique. It depicts Jesus, with an outstretched arm, pointing to Levi. The tax collectors are illuminated by light as they look at Jesus. St. Peter stands near Jesus, as He tells Levi to Follow Me!. The painting resides in Rome within San Luigi dei Francesi. The painting hangs next to two other St. Matthew paintings, including the Martyrdom of St. Matthew.