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Calling All Sinners
March 7, 2025
Isaiah 58:1-9a Matt 9:10-17 Psalm 51:1-10
As Jesus sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”
In today’s gospel reading, we find the Pharisees world getting shaken once again. A Pharisee was a member of an ancient Jewish sect, distinguished by strict observance of the traditional and written law, and commonly held to have pretensions to superior sanctity. As followers of Christ, we understand that our role in this world is one of servitude – that we are called to help those less fortunate than we have been. This ties very closely with our clothing and feeding ministries, which have shown steady growth over the last several years. The Pharisees looked down on Jesus as he broke bread with sinners and, gasp, tax collectors. His call for mercy over sacrifice didn’t jive with the ancient texts.
Was Jesus challenging the ancient texts? Probably not, but He allows for the use of common sense and mercy to have a place where strict interpretations of laws or rules may not be correct or shouldn’t apply.
Jesus continues by saying He has come to call not the righteous but sinners. As Episcopalians, we must not take for granted we are among the righteous and can expect a ticket to the rapture just because. We should live like our lives could use a little saving – follow His lead and show mercy. Continue in the good work we have started here and show a boat load of gratitude.
At the end of lent, we will assemble at St. Luke’s and thank and sing praises to the Lord for His sacrifice that saved the world.
So I throw up my hands
Praise You again and again
‘Cause all that I have is a hallelujah
Hallelujah
And I know it’s not much
But I’ve nothing else fit for a King
Except for a heart singing hallelujah
Hallelujah– Gratitude – Brandon Lake
Peace and Grace,
Michael Sullivan
