Proper 10, Year A, 8 June 2008
Matt 9:9-13
“Follow me” – an invitation to all
- Jesus asks a tax collector, a despised person in that society, to follow him.
- Every human being is asked to follow Jesus Christ.
Because “many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples”, the religious asked “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
I’ve known too many churches, and too many so called Christians having an exclusive and judgmental attitude toward other people.
“look at what that one is wearing…
…didn’t their son get caught doing that…
…do you know what her husband did…
…can you believe that she done that…
…what is he doing here…
…what are you doing here…
No! No! No!
Too many hurting and broken people think that they are not welcome or good enough to join the Christian community because of judgmental hypocrites who like to play the game of “church” but who have no idea of who Jesus Christ is Risen and the universal relationships that we are called into with every human being.
Every broken, hurting and sinful human being is invited by the Lord to enter into the fellowship of the Church – the people of God.
- do you have to have your life in perfect order before joining the fellowship of Love? No!
- the invitation is to walk together, to mature in Christ together, to heal together, to love together.
An exercise:
Look to the person next to you.
See a sinner – someone who at times thinks, says and does things sinful.
See the sin.
Is this how Jesus calls us to live our lives?
The seeing only of the sin gets in the way of authentic and life-giving relationship.
Now, how does the Lord see that same person?
Remember, Christ is in you.
It is He who is in you who doesn’t see the sin, but the sinner, and loves that person.
Know and co-operate with Christ in you loving that very same person.
If someone’s sinfulness makes you uncomfortable & judgmental, then you have a problem.
Take the log out of your own eye before noticing the speck in your neighbour’s eye.
Lets us make something very clear:
Every sinner, broken and wounded person is invited and welcomed here.
Everyone of us are sinners, broken and wounded and in need of healing.
The Lord Jesus invites every one of us to gather in the fellowship of His Church…
- to hear His living Word;
- to be fed by His sacraments;
- to be filled with His Holy and life giving Spirit;
- to be healed and made free;
- to be an agent of love and reconciliation in His world.
