And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples.
(Matthew 9.10
NRSV)
Jesus is enjoying a meal with some tax collectors and some other people we might call "unchurched." The disciple Matthew had been a tax collector before following Jesus. Maybe these were his friends. Jesus enjoyed being with people--even people on the fringes of society. Some Pharisees were close by. They saw Jesus eating with these people they considered sinners. The Pharisees were uncomfortable, for they were keepers of the Jewish tradition. They believed avoiding sinners and other outcasts of society was the only way to live a truly holy life. The Pharisees could not understand why Jesus ate with such people.
Jesus is our example. We need to be with those who need Christ the most.
Dear Jesus, may I find ways to be a friend to the unchurched, so that they can experience your love. Amen.
Ron
Newhouse
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