Table Reservations

Gospel: Matthew 9: 9-13

Jesus comes upon the booth of a tax collector, whereupon Jesus invites the man to follow him.  This invitation might be shocking enough were it not followed by Jesus entering the man's home, dining with his fellow tax collectors and their array of prostitutes.  The scene is just too much for the Pharisees to handle, and so they complain loudly about Jesus eating with sinners and inviting them to follow him in his religious ministry.  

The reader is mindful of the fact that not so long ago Jesus dined in the house of a Pharisee where a prostitute had been, and the Pharisee had violated Jewish hospitality law by not providing the proper washings for guests.  The Pharisee is perfectly fine with finding a place for himself and other Pharisees at table with Jesus, but he cannot accept the presence of another group of sinners he finds objectionable eating with the Lord at table.

We like this story because we think it inclusive, but only for ourselves and those like us.  When pressed to consider other people at table with the Lord whom we find objectionable, we raise our voice in protest.  Even those claiming to be inclusive either exclude others from the table of the Lord or excuse themselves from that table because they cannot be with those they find objectionable.  Today's feast and Gospel portion present us with an opportunity for examination and deep change in our attitudes and practices.