Who needs Jesus? Whom does He call upon? From the Gospel reading in today’s Mass for the Saturday after Ash Wednesday:

Luke 5:27-32: “Jesus 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.
Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house,
and a large crowd of tax collectors
and others were at table with them.
The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying,
‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’
Jesus said to them in reply,
‘Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do.
I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.’ “

(Via USCCB.)

Jesus is the Divine Physician. He came to heal the sick and offer comfort and relief to those outcast from society. If anyone recognizes this, it would be us alcoholics and addicts. We were sick, and to varying degrees, still are. We have had a sinful past (as does everyone, but our sinful behavior may have been more distressing) and we more than most are aware of our need to atone for it. We must repent and turn back to the Lord.

This is why Lent is one of my favorite times of the year. It offers a focused means of repentance and forgiveness of sins. While we can do this anytime of the year through the Sacraments of Reconciliation (Confession) and the Eucharist, during Lent we have the greater opportunity for doing so as the whole Church responds to Jesus’ call of repentance.

Go to Confession much? Try it during this Lenten season.

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Know someone, perhaps yourself, who might like Catholic devotionals for alcoholics? Please take a look at my books! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)