Those sort of people

This weekend's Gospel reading is about Jesus calling the tax collector Matthew to follow Him (which Matthew gladly does immediately). We then hear about Jesus going to Matthew's house for dinner with him and other tax collectors and "sinners." Some Pharisees who see this criticize Jesus for eating with what some might call "those sort of people." In response to their criticism, Jesus reminds them that God desires mercy.

For the Pharisees, tax collectors were often thought of as people totally ceremonially unclean and not welcome in the temple or synagogue because they were cheats who worked for the Romans. In their minds it did not make sense for someone who claimed to be from God to eat with "those sort of people."

But that is the wonder of a loving, compassionate God. He comes where sinners are not to condone the sin but to offer a brand new identity -- from outcast sinner to the forgiven, redeemed child of God.

The reality is, to God we are all "those sort of people" who were lost in sin. We had nothing about us that made us worthy of His mercy, yet in love He chose not to abandon us but to come to us and through His Spirit breathe new life in us, connecting us to Him rather than throwing us away.

And this weekend for those who are able to worship in person, we get to experience the love of a Savior who wishes to eat with us as He invites us to the Lord's Supper. There the Spirit continues the work of making us more and more like Jesus as we receive Him who in mercy receives and welcomes us.

And if He would so treat us, calling us to be His disciples, who are we to look in judgment at "those sort of people" and want nothing to do with them? We make disciples of all nations by living lives which display thankfulness and mercy. And when one, like Matthew, responds to the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing them to faith, we welcome them in love.