The Call
of Christ and the Healing of the Sinner
A Sermon on Luke 5:27-32
At the Greek Orthodox Church in Swansea, West Wales, UK
Saturday 10th October 2026
Dear
brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today’s
Gospel reading presents us with one of the most beautiful and encouraging
encounters in the earthly ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ: the calling of
Levi, the tax collector, who is also known as Matthew. Through this seemingly
simple event, the Church invites us to reflect upon three great truths of our
Christian faith: the boundless mercy of God, the transforming power of
repentance, and the universal invitation to salvation.
The
Evangelist Luke tells us that Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at
his tax office and said to him just two words: “Follow Me.” Immediately, Levi
left everything, rose, and followed Him.
To
appreciate the significance of this encounter, we must remember that tax
collectors in the time of Christ were generally despised by their fellow Jews.
They were associated with the Roman occupying authorities, and many were
suspected of dishonesty, greed, and exploitation. They were regarded as sinners
and often excluded from respectable religious society.
Yet
Christ did not see Levi merely as a tax collector or as a sinner. He saw a
human being created in the image and likeness of God, a person capable of
repentance, holiness, and spiritual transformation.
This
is a fundamental teaching of our Orthodox Christian faith: God does not
identify us permanently with our sins. He sees beyond our weaknesses and
failures. He sees what we can become through His grace.
The
response of Levi is equally remarkable. The Gospel tells us that he left
everything and followed Christ. He did not ask for time to consider the
invitation. He did not negotiate conditions. He simply responded with faith and
obedience.
For
us, this raises an important question: when Christ calls us, how do we respond?
Do we willingly follow Him, or do we allow our possessions, ambitions, habits,
and worldly concerns to hold us back?
Following
Christ does not necessarily mean abandoning our employment or family
responsibilities. It means placing Christ at the centre of our existence and
allowing His Gospel to guide our thoughts, decisions, relationships, and
actions.
After
his calling, Levi organised a great banquet in his house, inviting many tax
collectors and others to share a meal with Jesus. This banquet was more than an
expression of hospitality. It was a celebration of a new beginning, a joyful
response to the mercy he had received.
But
the Pharisees and scribes complained: “Why do You eat and drink with tax
collectors and sinners?”
Their
question reveals a dangerous spiritual attitude: the temptation to divide
humanity into the righteous and the sinful, the worthy and the unworthy.
Christ
answered with words that remain at the very heart of the Christian message:
“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have
not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Here,
our Lord reveals Himself as the Divine Physician, who comes to heal the
spiritual wounds of humanity.
In the
Orthodox tradition, sin is understood not only as the violation of God's
commandments but also as a spiritual illness that damages our communion with
God and with one another. Consequently, salvation is not merely a legal
declaration of forgiveness. It is the healing, restoration, and transformation
of the whole human person.
This
is why the Church is often described by the Holy Fathers as a spiritual
hospital. Within her life, through prayer, fasting, confession, the Holy
Eucharist, acts of love, and sincere repentance, we receive the healing grace
of Christ.
We
must remember, however, that repentance, or metanoia in Greek, means much more
than feeling sorry for our mistakes. It means a profound change of mind, heart,
and direction. It is the courageous decision to turn away from sin and return
to the loving embrace of our heavenly Father.
Levi's
life demonstrates precisely this transformation. The man who once sat
collecting money became a disciple who followed Christ. His priorities changed,
his heart opened, and his life acquired a new and eternal purpose.
Dear
brothers and sisters,
Today's
Gospel also challenges us to examine our attitude towards others. Are we
sometimes like the Pharisees, quick to judge and slow to forgive? Do we welcome
those who struggle, or do we distance ourselves from them?
Our
Orthodox faith calls us to combine faithfulness to the truth with compassion
towards every human being. We must never confuse hatred of sin with rejection
of the sinner.
The
Lord who called Levi continues to call each one of us today. His invitation is
personal, loving, and full of hope.
May we
have the humility to recognise our spiritual illnesses, the courage to repent,
and the faith to follow Christ without hesitation.
And
may our parishes always be places of welcome, forgiveness, spiritual healing,
and genuine Christian love, where every person can encounter the mercy of the
living God.
Amen.
