“As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.”
And he got up and followed him.
While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”” Matthew 9:9-13
I reflect upon this event, visualizing the moment. I look around the table and see three different people in the room beside the Lord. A sinner serving his friends, sinners who are seeking but don’t yet know the Lord and those who are fighting to keep the Lord in check.
St. Matthew was in the tax booth, a sinner beyond compare in the eyes of his people. A traitor. Yet, Jesus stops, turns and calls him, “Follow Me.” Matthew leaves his job.
Within hours, Matthew’s home is filled with a bunch of people who have come seeking to hear what this Jesus has to say. He is the miracle worked from Galilee, the man who called their friend, Matthew, from a great job. What’s this about?
Then, tap tap, at the door arrive the Pharisees (da da daaaa). Oh, and they are upset. They point at those around the table – “sinners, wicked people.” The righteous of God see this rabbi, Jesus, cavorting with wretched, dirty people. Outcasts from the temple. What’s this itinerant preacher doing? He mustn’t know. They call Him out to His disciples, not even having the courage to confront Jesus Himself.
Jesus knows their hearts, He knows the complaints before they find words. Jesus steps into the fray. “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.”
Jesus came to show mercy to the most wretched and ‘sick’ of the world. To call them from the dark tax booth, into the light. Jesus tells them to “Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” Then, proceeds to show us.
I praise God’s Divine Mercy that He came to call sinners. I am certainly not one of the righteous.