February 17th : Gospel Jesus comes not to call the virtuous, but sinners to repentanceA reading from the Holy Gospel according to St.Luke 5:27-32

February 17th :  Gospel 

Jesus comes not to call the virtuous, but sinners to repentance

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St.Luke 5:27-32 

Jesus noticed a tax collector, Levi by name, sitting by the customs house, and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And leaving everything he got up and followed him.

  In his honour Levi held a great reception in his house, and with them at table was a large gathering of tax collectors and others. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples and said, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’ Jesus said to them in reply, ‘It is not those who are well who need the doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the virtuous, but sinners to repentance.’

The Word of the Lord.