Thoughts for the Day

After this Jesus went out and saw a tax-collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up, left everything, and followed him.

Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house; and there was a large crowd of tax-collectors and others sitting at the table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples, saying, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax-collectors and sinners?’ Jesus answered, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

I wonder, are you a cat Christian or a dog Christian? Now I don't want to disparage cats or dogs since I've always had dogs, and now live with two cats, but have you heard this saying about the difference between them:

• A dog says, “You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me.  You must be the master.” 
• A cat says, “You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me.  I must be master.” 

Dogs want to obey their masters – cats want their masters to obey them.  Although really cats have staff! Dogs will do whatever it takes to please their masters, but cats will do whatever it takes to please themselves.  As Gerald Robison and Bob Sjogren explain in their book 'Cat and Dog Theology' we Christians can be dog or cat Christians. Those who follow dog theology say, “Lord, you have loved me, you have blessed me, you have provided for me.  You must be God.”   Those who follow cat theology say, “Lord, you have loved me, blessed me, and provided for me.  I must be God.” Spiritual dogs want to obey God.  Spiritual cats want God to obey them. 

Today's story of the conversion of Matthew (Levi) exemplifies this difference. Matthew is the greatest of sinners. Tax collectors made fortunes by working for the Romans at the expense of the people. When Jesus calls him he's so happy at being brought within the fold (tax collectors were grouped with murderers) that he simply leaves everything to follow him. We might expect him to just relish being with Jesus and accepted as a disciple, but no, he immediately thinks of his friends and colleagues and prepares a huge banquet. He wants them to meet Jesus, the man who has changed his life.

The Pharisees want Jesus to obey them (cats). They want Jesus to conform to their pattern of how the Messiah should behave. Matthew wants to follow his master (dog), and he wants everyone to share in his joy as they get to know Jesus.

Lord Jesus Christ,
we are Your followers,
and where you go we would follow.
But we ask Your forgiveness,
when sometimes life gets in the way
and following You gets hard.
Keep us faithful - happy just to be with You
whatever life's demands,
for we cannot exist without You.
Amen.