Reflection: Human flourishing means going where the needs are
Jesus is beginning to attract large crowds who are fascinated by his teaching. He is walking along when he comes across Levi at his tax booth. Tax collectors were hated because they were Jewish people collaborating with the ‘enemy’, Rome. It is easy for us to be critical of them, but we need to be honest about the possibility that sometimes we do work where we are asked to do things we don’t agree with.
In this scene from the passage, there is a curious thing where Jesus invites Levi to “Follow me”, but Jesus ends up at Levi’s house (presumably following Levi there!). Note how often we see that it is in the domestic context where Jesus does a lot of his deep spiritual work (healing Peter’s mother-in-law, chatting with Mary and Martha).
It seems that the religious authorities are accusing Jesus of affirming the behaviour of sinners by eating with ‘tax collectors and sinners’. Instead, people willingly change after encountering Jesus (remember another tax collector, Zacchaeus). When questioned, Jesus responds, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but those who are ill. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Jesus is implying that you cannot be healed if you do not realise you are sick. The people Jesus was eating with were intrigued by his wisdom, and recognised that he was offering them something that they needed. Perhaps Jesus is asking us to go where our unique knowledge, skills and experiences are needed.
Just as Jesus went to where the needs were, maybe he is asking you to go where your unique knowledge, skills and experiences are needed. Where could that be? Is it where you are now?
Prayer: Dear God, thank you that Jesus spent time with those who might otherwise not have heard of the good news available through him. Thank you that Jesus has come to us sinners also. Please help me to listen to your prompting about the needy you might bring across my path, or to whom you might send me to help or teach. Amen.