Do you know that feeling of being
picked last for a team in gym class? Or maybe you know the feeling of
being talked about because you had more than the others? Or how about just
being misunderstood? I am sure that Levi dealt with feelings like this. Tax collectors
were employed by the people in charge, could rat you out or extort you. Tax
collectors were known to pocket some of your money, but to whom could you plead
your case? No one. Levi was a scoundrel, not liked and hated, seen by others as
a traitor to his people. Why would Jesus to speak to a person like this? Did
you see what he said to Levi?
"Follow me."
I doubt Jesus was just trying
to get out of paying taxes. Jesus offered to share his life with Levi, the
Hebrew name of the apostle that we come to know as Matthew. A tax collector
appears to have it all-money and power. Only Jesus saw his need for a leader,
for belonging. Levi responded as we would like to: he just left everything and
followed him. Let's face it, we often don't. We work Jesus into our lives
rather than work a life around Jesus. This tax collector had money and power,
things many people think will soothe them, and he found them inadequate enough
to leave them to follow Jesus.
The best part is that Levi is
so excited, he has a dinner party to introduce his friends to Jesus. Of course,
the judgmental church people end up there too. Maybe simple nosiness, maybe to
antagonize their enemy, who is not satan or evil by the way but instead, a God
that is too loving, too forgiving, too inclusive.
I always wonder am I a Pharisee
or a sinner. Not in the way that I don't need salvation, but do I criticize and
try to micromanage God, or do I gratefully welcome Jesus into my life and drop
things to follow him? Then I think about the Church and wonder who are we? I
want to be Jesus. I want to include people in my life that need love more than
lectures. When I speak, I want my words to be full of the Truth but
Grace-filled too. I know this can work on the heart because it worked on mine. Unlikely
friends, we became extended family if you will. We were invited to do life with
them. Sometime during the life of camping and meals and long talks, I could
sense my heart softening until I chose my path to follow Jesus, even as imperfectly
as I do.
There are outcasts all around
the Church-Christ's body in this world. Do we love them like Jesus did or just
convict them like the Pharisees? Are we so desirous to be like Jesus that we
are willing to leave our expectations and agendas to sit down and eat dinner
with people who might never see themselves in a gathering of a church? Are we
willing to speak truthfully about grace rather than simply instruct them to
"go and sin no more" after dessert? Are we really just one beggar
showing another where to get bread or are we a storekeeper now?
When I think about how Jesus
approached outcasts the qualities that I see are gentleness, humility,
protectiveness, compassionate, and honest. As I desire to be like Jesus, I try
to develop these characteristics, which, are the opposite of the Pharisees, and
some of the Church. I am grateful for my church community that embraces
outcasts and welcomes them to their feasts. I also want to become as gracious
and welcoming as they are. Until I do, I will still invite people to eat. I
will stumble in attempts to speak truth gracefully. I will fail in boldness,
but I will not give up. Jesus called out to my heart, "Follow me,"
and I was, and am, given such grace that I need to share it. I don't deserve it
anymore than Levi did, and in our amazement, we invite others to come and meet
Jesus as well. It's just what we outcasts do.
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