Jul 17 2019 Mark 2: 13-22

As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him.

This is the full extent of the call story of the disciple known as Matthew. Jesus saw him at a tax booth, called him, and Matthew got up and followed him. In this time of political turmoil, it feels like we can learn from Jesus’ call of Matthew. After the call of Matthew, Jesus is questioned as to why he’s having dinner with “sinners and tax collectors” Clearly, tax collectors in general, and Matthew in particular were seen as people of ill-repute.

In that time, the reputation of tax collectors was worse than it is now. Tax collectors were normally Jews who’d taken jobs for the occupying Roman Empire. Their job was to collect taxes from their fellow Jews and hand it over to the hated Romans. This made them suspect. Worse, it was common practice that they could take extra and pocket the difference. As long as Rome got its share, they didn’t care what the tax collectors took. So these tax collectors took money from fellow citizens, were part of the corrupt occupying system, and profited from their place in that oppressive system.

This feels familiar to me. Living in this liberal corner of the US, the old-time tax collectors and the charges against them sound like the modern day 1% and the charges against them. The wealthiest people in the country make a living off of fellow citizens. They are part of a system that oppresses others and profit from their role in that system.

And Jesus called Matthew.

To me, what this says is that no one is beyond God’s grace. Even modern day tax collectors. If Jesus called Matthew and dined with him and other sinners, who am I to dismiss modern-day tax collectors as beyond Jesus’ call or grace. Who am I to partake in bashing the 1%? That sounds like the Pharisees complaining that Jesus was dining with tax collectors.

This morning, I’m thinking about the wonderful statement, sinners and tax collectors. That includes pretty much everyone that modern society, both liberal and conservative, would challenge is excluded from God’s call and grace. In particular, I’m thinking about Matthew, tax collectors, and the modern day 1%. They are all children of God. I am to seek and serve Christ in all people, including the 1%. More important, I am to respect the dignity of every human being. From this liberal corner of the country, I see a great deal of disrespect and hateful language towards the 1%, or the financial, political and economic elite.

If Jesus returned and called his disciples today, who would he call as his ‘tax collector’? Would we be like the Pharisees, questioning his choice of dinner mates? Who would I second guess and why?