Who do you eat with?

AM Psalm 119:145-176 • PM Psalm 128, 129, 130
2 Kings 22:14-23:3 • 1 Cor. 11:23-34 • Matt. 9:9-17

In our reading today, Jesus calls Matthew the tax collector, who becomes a disciple. He goes to Matthew’s house to eat, which brings the Pharisees to ask his followers “why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

I have always wondered what Jesus’ approach was with those he ministered to. People who others ostracized, looked down on, and thought “I would never be seen with THOSE people”. Somehow Jesus was able to move past that dynamic, and I’ve come to believe that he had a grace and acceptance that inspired people to change. The “others” would have been aware of those dynamics as well, and would have likely felt the same way (“Why would I hang out with that religious guy?”) Breaking down the social barriers and inspiring the best in people was a miracle of Jesus in and of itself.

This makes me ponder who I would NOT be inclined to share a meal with, or who would I not even want to be seen with? It takes courage to set aside the fear of outside judgement, as well as a grace that intrigues those who are very different from me. To this day we have extreme factions and polarized tribalism, and to follow in Jesus’ footsteps is to find a way to break down those boundaries with love and grace. That takes a special kind of courage and selflessness, mixed with a healthy dose of integrity. The more we are able to master this combination, the more we can contribute to the healing and unity that can bring the kingdom of God to earth.

Written by Dan Robinson

Dan Robinson is the Director of Media Ministries at St. Paul’s, overseeing the streaming of the services online.