Reflections in Ordinary Time

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - June 5, 2005

Once while Jesus was sitting at a meal with his disciples, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with them. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, "Why does the teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

Jesus 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 have come not to call the righteous, but sinners."

Matthew 9: 10-13

He Came to Call Sinners

The Gospels contain substantial evidence that Jesus got into a lot of trouble because of some of the company he kept. No respectable Jew in his day would ever be seen eating and drinking with the kinds of low-life characters Jesus associated with. In fact it was Jesus' willingness to get involved with such characters that pushed his opponents to the limit and set him on the collision course that led to his death.

But reaching out to sinners was the whole purpose for which Jesus was sent into the world. He certainly would not have gone to all the trouble of becoming man and dying on the cross if no one needed to be saved.

Jesus saw people differently from the way everyone else did. After all he was God. He was present at the creation. He knew that every person is created in the image of God, and no matter how far anyone falls from grace, he is still a child of God. Jesus could look into the heart of a man or a woman and see more than human faults and weakness. He saw someone to be loved unconditionally, someone to be treated with respect and compassion. And he knew that almost everyone if loved will become a better person.

This does not mean that Jesus was soft on sin. He never made any compromises with evil. He challenged everyone to walk a straight and narrow path through this life, and he made it clear that this path is the only way to heaven. Jesus reached out to sinners because he knew they were on a path to nowhere, and he wanted to lead them back to the path to eternal life.

Jesus' stance toward sinners has far-reaching consequences for those of us who profess to be his followers. If Jesus were to return to the world today, he would associate with all sorts of characters whom we hold in contempt. While we are seeing ourselves as guardians of righteousness protecting the kingdom of God on earth from undesirables of every sort, Jesus would be throwing open the gates and inviting everyone in. We have every reason to be concerned that God will forgive everyone's sins the way he is forgiving ours, which means heaven will be crowded to the rafters with all sorts of people we can barely tolerate.

Maybe we need to change. We are all fallen from grace. We are all unworthy of the mercy God shows us. Maybe we should swallow our pride and sit down at table with some tax collectors and sinners. That way we won't be left out when the Lord comes.

Lord, may your healing love turn us from sin and keep us on the way that leads to you. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

- from the mass for the Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time