“After these things he went forth, and beheld a publican, named Levi, sitting at the place of toll, and said unto him, Follow me.”

The recruitment of Levi must have been a jaw-dropping surprise to Christ's followers. It definitely troubled the Pharisees and scribes. As a tax collector and an agent of the Roman oppressors, Levi would have been hated by his fellow Jews. He was a traitor and an extortionist who had bid for the right to collect taxes. Exorbitant taxes. Anything over and above what Rome demanded was Levi's to keep. And apparently he kept a lot. Levi lived large: a sprawling home, lavish banquets, powerful, influential friends. What's not to like? Apparently quite a lot.

The trappings of worldly success must have left a spiritual void in Levi's life. The Gospel tells us that Jesus only had to say, "Follow me" and Levi left everything behind.

“Follow you?” Levi could have answered. “You can’t be serious. It’s the middle of the day. My books aren’t balanced. I’m already two days behind on the tax rolls, the kids have soccer practice this afternoon and the wife has tickets to a show. Try me some other time when I’m not so busy.”

But that was not how Levi responded. He quit a life of ease. He left behind all the trappings of success, the wanton wastefulness of luxury.

"Follow me." That’s all it took. Two simple words and yet the expression on Jesus’ face must have said volumes.  I imagine He smiled in a way that melted Levi's heart. Smiled in a way that said, "I understand." Smiled in a way that said, "All will be forgiven."

Something miraculous happened that day. The change was so dramatic, so complete, that Levi even changed his name. For ever after he would be known as Matthew, which means, "God's gift." Eventually, he would become one of the four great evangelists. The Book of Matthew serves to remind us that we all have received “God’s gift” of faith. The question is: what will we do with it?

If you have ever fervently wished that Jesus would step out of the crowd and speak to you as directly and forcefully as He spoke to Levi; if you have ever prayed that the Lord would lead the way, this Lenten season could be a turning point in your life.

The 40 days of Lent are a period in which we are called to re-examine our values and embrace a simpler lifestyle.  We’re called to pray, fast and give alms as a sign of our detachment from the world. Our self-denial can take many forms. It might mean giving up alcohol; not watching our favorite TV show; avoiding fast foods; eliminating desserts; or meatless Fridays to name just a few common examples. But it can also mean changing our priorities in order to free up time to volunteer in a church-based ministry. In our fast-paced, whirlwind society where time is so precious, volunteering is a very meaningful, worthwhile sacrifice. And, if you volunteer in a food bank, homeless shelter or thrift shop, you’ll have an unforgettable Lenten lesson in values clarification.