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

We have looked at the system of Roman and Jewish taxation before and why the latter so hated those who gathered the Roman taxes. To remind us: The Jews were forced to pay taxes direct to the Emperor - ground tax (10% of grain and 20% of wine and fruit); income tax (1% of income); and poll tax (1 denarius a year for men and women) - using Roman coinage. This was on top of Temple tax which their faith demanded. Paying tax to the Romans overlords was truly hated, and tax collectors were classed along with robbers and murderers. Also they were barred from attending the synagogue. But Levi (or Matthew as we know him) was one of the men Jesus called to be an Apostle!

Only in Luke's Gospel do we hear that the feast that follows is in Matthew's own house. Having been called by Jesus Matthew wants to invite all his fellow tax-collectors and outcasts to meet this amazing man. John Wesley once said "No man went to Heaven alone!" By this he meant once we have come to faith we must pass on the good news to others and we must join the congregation of other Christians. We cannot be an isolated Christian! We are called into community where we learn how to live as a Christian, and where our sharp edges are rubbed off as we grow closer to God!

If sometimes we feel amazed at the love God offers to us, we should reflect at the potential Jesus saw in the tax-collector that everyone hated. He sees potential in us too - we just have to grab that potential and go with it!

Lord Jesus Christ,
You called us through the Holy Spirit,
and we responded at our Baptism.
Throughout our life You have
frequently called us again and again,
but often we have been slow
to answer Your call to work in the world,
and failed to reach our potential.
This Lent may we grasp the invitation
and respond to Your call with fresh vigour.
Amen.