Jesus with everyone

Homily – Sunday, the 11th June 2023

Reading: Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

Imagine a mother or a father talking painfully about their son.

He is indeed earning lucratively but what is the use, if everyone hates him. He is considered a category less than even sinners. He is considered an enemy of his own people.

Yes Levi’s parents were devout Jews who were perhaps very concerned about their tax collector son- so the story goes.

Tax Collectors were agents of the Colonial Roman regime and the people of the land hated and despised them. They did not want to do anything with them and were even excluded from the religiosity if the time.

One day when their son came home for dinner, there was someone whom they never expected coming with him. It was Jesus.

That was a new beginning in the life of Levi. He got a new name- Matthew which meant gift of God.

Yes it takes Just a moment for a person to be transformed.

When we think of our dear ones within our homes- have we ever thought they had a genuine Jesus encounter!!

Through our pain, our tears, our anxieties have we prayed for a transformation?

In his time- it takes just a moment.

There is no person Jesus gives up on

Matthew 9 is set in Jesus’ own town. Matthew was sitting in his tax booth collecting taxes and he saw a few people carrying a paralytic to Jesus. The words of Jesus rang in his years- Your sins are forgiven.

Matthew could see the commotion- Pharisees asking who he is to forgive sins- this is Blasphemy.

Suddenly Jesus told the man- Take Up your bed and go home.

And HOME is a very important theme of Matthew

Matthew saw the man getting up and going home and he also saw the awe and the amazement of the people around.

Matthew then writes an autobiographical experience- As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.

There is no person Jesus gives up on.

Perhaps what appealed to Matthew most could have been the phrase- Your sins are forgiven.

However Matthew stood up and followed.

The choice is clear TO FIT IN or STAND OUT.

Jesus saw this person- This man can be a good disciple- Not just what he was or what he is but what he can be

Jesus saw his possibility- he is not to be sitting and collecting taxes. He has a much greater mission to accomplish.

Jesus saw his pen. That skills of his should not be about tax calculations but about much deeper spiritual truths.

There is no person Jesus gives up on

There is no place where Jesus cannot reach out to

The Tax Collectors Booth is perhaps one of the most detestable places in the eyes of the people of his land.

Jesus who was walking along stood by the tax collectors booth and came to him and said “Follow Me”

It is many a times in our ordinary day work places that we have the God encounter not necessarily in the serenity of a worshipping place.

Yes our work places can be our worshipping places too when we see the entirely of life as a continuation of worship.

I have a friend, who was in prison for a double murder. In my ministry with prisoners, I used to frequently meet him in prison.

He had a girl friend who would not give up on him despite the conviction- she used to say- It takes just a moment for God to act on him.

And God can meet him anywhere even in the prison.

That exactly did happen. He had a gripping encounter with Jesus in the prison. That totally transformed him. This girl decided to marry him while he was in prison waiting on the Lord for his release.

He spent the full term of fifteen years and was released. Today he runs a home for prisoners’ children.

The message of the family is simple- there is no place God cannot reach!

If he could reach me, a sinner, and transform me into a missionary

If he could meet me in the dark chambers of a prison cell

He could meet anyone anywhere. Yes ANYWHERE.

There is no company that Jesus would avoid.

Jesus only said- Follow Me

Matthew stood up and followed.

There were no arguments about the pros and cons of the decision to follow. Matthew did not count the cost.

There was no stock taking about what Matthew would have to sacrifice or what Jesus had to offer.

Matthew would perhaps have asked- Where are we going now?

And Jesus said- Where do you think?

Why not your home?

Matthew said. I have invited my friends for dinner. Tax collectors and sinners in the sight of the world. Would you join me for the BBQ?

Jesus said Yes!

And he came home

Invitation for the dinner went from Matthew the Tax collector and the hosting was already by Matthew the missionary.

Yes friends. It takes just a moment for homes to be transformed.

Imagine Levi’s mother- hearing about this- Matthew deciding to quit being a tax collector!

Some of our homes need this Jesus presence.

If Jesus meets us at the door during coffee and says- Shall we have a meal at your home- would we say- Well lets go to a restaurant- Home is not ready yet. People at home are not ready yet.

Hosting Jesus at Home is a joy.

I went to Chennai as a Bachelor boy very fervent for the Lord and the only concern was food. There was a neighbor family who was gracious in inviting me often for dinner and the food was yummy. I asked her once- how do you cook such good food. And she said- I cook for Jesus when I cook for a guest!

It takes just a moment for Jesus to transform our homes.

There is no pointing fingers Jesus would worry about

When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and sinners?’ ¹² But when he heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

People who point fingers would always be there

The Pharisees who knows only to criticise would always be there

People who ask Why Why Why- would always be there

Jesus was not pulled back by any of the Pharisees

Matthew writes it down for us to be reminded- Do not worry about people who would stand on the way with a thousand questions.

Perhaps for some of us the concern is TOO MANY FINGERS POINTING AT US. Too much of accusations.

It takes just a moment for Jesus to transform

There is no sick person who does not need the physician-

Matthew records what Jesus said precisely, But when he heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ¹³ Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’

The stories Matthew writes after the call experience include the girl restored to life and the healing of the woman with haemorrhages for twelve years, He then writes about the healing of the blind and of the mute.

The story of healer healing lives continue

It just takes a moment for Jesus to transform lives

Vinod Victor

June 11, 2023