Conversion

Gospel: Lk 5:27-32

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021724.cfm

What does it take for conversion? In today’s gospel, we learn of Levi, a tax collector, who left everything behind to follow Jesus. At the point of his conversion, he wanted to share his newfound relationship with Jesus with his friends, and his fellow tax collectors.

From the perspective of the Pharisees and scribes, Jesus was hanging out with greedy individuals who took advantage of the marginalized in society. On the surface, it all appeared as it was; it was what society judged it to be. A tax collector was a bad person, and a group of tax collectors was even worse. They were stereotyped for the role that they provided to society. Some of these stereotypes could have been for good reason and some of them may be self-fulfilling prejudgments.

As one goes through a conversion experience, the world may not see it that way. It may take the world time to catch up, and the world may never catch up. There may still be judgment from your community, your family, and strangers for who you’ve been or what you may have symbolized to them. Even your religious institution may fall trap to this. What good is it to change if the world still sees you the way you were? Conversion requires resilience and open-mindedness. We must be disciplined to sustain our change and keep ourselves open to additional changes to come. Conversion is not a one-moment experience. God is always working on us.