One of Christ’s ancient titles, the “Divine Physician,” has roots in today’s Gospel passage. As someone who suffers from white coat syndrome, with my blood pressure spiking anytime I’m at a doctor’s office, I don’t like this title one bit. Physicians stressed me out even more when my wife and I started having kids. Suddenly, I had so much more to lose. A doctor is a walking, talking memento mori, a reminder that our bodies are destined to break down and die.

Jesus invites me to loosen my grip on this fear. I’m reflecting on a doctor I loved in my old hometown. He was confident and funny but also gently reassuring. He could tell whether my new health concern was imaginary or needed further follow up. What made this physician so good was that he truly paid attention to me, and not only the words I was saying. He noticed my body language and the tone of my voice. He made me feel seen.

This is just what Christ does throughout Scripture, memorably so in today’s Gospel. We know little about Levi besides the fact he was a tax collector—meaning his ancient title could have been “Corrupt and Predatory.” But Jesus is paying close attention to Levi; he intuits something good about him beneath the surface and says simply: “Follow me.” We are left to wonder what it was about this direct, two-word invitation that allowed Levi to leave his selfishness behind so quickly. He must have felt seen. He must have felt appreciated and maybe even relieved, as if he had just met the most compassionate care provider on the planet.

Michael Jordan Laskey

Michael Jordan Laskey is the communications director for the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States and the author of The Ministry of Peace and Justice.