Day 48: Why Does He Eat with Tax Collectors and Sinners
Mark 2:13-17
In some Christian movies or movies that portray Christianity, there is a group of people that will either excluded another group of people or they will exclude a person because they hang out with “bad” people. The Pharisees were like this too; obsessed with the law with no room for compassion. Still, in other Christian movies or movies portraying Christianity, it is just a bunch of rules and strict regulations, again with no room for compassion.
Though it is true that we should have people that will help us in our faith, just as some of the Saints were friends, siblings, or spouses; however, Jesus told us to go out and make disciples of all nations. If we are exclusive or do not be compassionate toward others we are not truly being Christian. Jesus later says in this passage that He did not come for the righteous, but for the sinner. Just as the well do not need a doctor or as a fixed car does not need a mechanic, the righteous do not need to be saved. However, the Pharisees were not truly righteous because they were prideful. Jesus came for all to save all because even if you feel as if you are righteous and do not feel like you need help, you have become prideful and maybe even blind to your faults or are hiding your faults from people.
"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'”
Luke 18:13
Sinners who know they are in sin, but have true contrition and want to repent are more righteous than the one obsessed with rules or the one that feels as if they are perfect. We have a God of love, not a God of rules. He wants to satisfy our joy and fulfill our unique, unrepeatable, human individuality. He created us to be unique from other people. Anytime we are anything than ourselves, it is a mistake. We are called to love our brothers and sisters and bring them back to the faith, not by condemning them and having them return out of fear of Hell, but having them return because they have encountered Christ’s love and mercy through us.
Prayer: Mary, help me to stay close to your Son’s heart, so that I may be like Him and share the faith with those who don’t know the love and mercy of the Lord