Today’s scripture: Luke 5: 27-32 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Sue Robinson):
It is so easy for us as human beings to get comfortable in our little circles and groups. We go to school with like-minded people, we socialize with people like us, and we are insulated by family ties.
In our scripture passage today, Jesus went outside of the expected comfort zone!
The scribes and Pharisees, the religious elite of the day, would have assumed that Jesus would be at home in their circle. After all, he was presenting himself as a religious teacher and many of the people were starting to follow him. Not only did the scribes and Pharisees assume that he would exclude the sinners, heathen, and unclean; but they expected no less.
As the story goes, Jesus had just been introduced to a tax collector named Levi. The tax collectors of the day were the lowest of the low. They were “sell outs” to the Roman government. These people collected exorbitant taxes and fees from their own Jewish brothers and sisters to give to Rome. They were hated beyond measure. Their lives must have been lonely and friendless.
Jesus came upon Levi and immediately said, “Follow me.” What could Jesus have been thinking to even speak to this man! Levi didn’t hesitate. Scripture says that he rose up and followed him.
Our next scene has Levi hosting a feast in his home. There were other societial rejects there as well, and Levi had the nerve to invite Jesus to join them. Can you imagine the disgust that the scribes and Pharisees felt when Jesus actually sat down with them?
All this was just too much for the religious leaders. They confronted the disciples with the complaint, “Why does he sit down and eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus answered them with these words, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.”
Are we secure enough to leave our comfort zone and invite people in who are in need of the Great Physician? That’s what Jesus did!
Prayer for the day: Lord, help me go out of my way to find those who are hungry for a touch from you and to invite them into the feast you have provided for us all. Amen
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.