March 26, 2026

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“And NO ONE after drinking old wine wants the new, they will say, ‘The old is better.’”

(Luke 5.39)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

As I have mentioned earlier, the call of Levi, Matthew, is one of those places in the gospel story where there is agreement between the tellers of the story. Matthew represents the penultimate personal faith conflict for the listeners. Levi, Matthew, is a Jew. He was born a Jew. He was raised a Jew. He was confirmed a Jew and knew the Torah as did all others. Matthew, Levi, was an outcast. He was a tax collector. He served two masters, himself and Rome. He was considered worse than a Samaritan. Many times we hear of those Jesus associated with as “sinners and tax collectors.” He was hated. He was feared. He had the ability to assign and assess taxes so long as Rome received their share (an established price.) For many, Levi, Matthew, was a traitor to Israel and Judaism. He was not welcome in the Temple nor the synagogue. It might be said that Matthew, Levi, was a man without a home. He had a house, but was he at home there. Levi, Matthew, was looking to feel at home where he was loved and welcomed, welcoming and loving.

There is great power in the “Levi Pericope.” It speaks to the acceptance which Jesus created for and in Matthew. Before Jesus, Pharisees and teachers of the Law would never have associated with him. They would never be found at his table (unless, perhaps, if they were on the take as well). They would have remained outside as passersby, much like the priest and Levite in “The Parable of the Good Samaritan.” They would have ignored him and left him “for dead,” spiritually speaking. They would not have sought to redeem him or reconcile him. His salvation would have been upon his own works and by no effort on their part. How different it was when Jesus extended Levi to “Come, follow Me!” Jesus made the offer. Jesus was reconciling him. It was only by faith in accepting the work of Jesus who sought and would later purchase His redemption with His own blood, that Matthew was able to become a new wineskin with new wine rapidly aging into discipleship maturity. Yes, it was that “old wine,” the Ancient of Days who is preeminent in all things, who existed before the foundations of the earth were laid and whose breath was poured into dust to make the image which God determined was good and very good that reconciled him and gave him new life.

Mighty ones of God in Jesus Christ, Levi’s story is our story. There is none perfect save Christ, no not one. “For we are all sinners, fallen short of the glory of God who made us and has redeemed us by His only begotten Son, Jesus of Nazareth… and of Heaven!” It is time we lay aside the old and take on the new and become reborn as on that first day when sin had no hold on creation and peace ruled the days.

TODAY’S PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.