What’s For Dinner | January 16, 2016

January 16, 2016

Today’s gospel is another one of those times when Jesus kind of cracks me up. I think a lot of times we picture Jesus as this real serious Gandhi-type guy, but I find that he does some really funny things like sarcastically giving Peter the nickname “Rock” when he was not really rock-like at all, or when he saved Zacchaeus in the tree from flashing the town, and if all the children in the village loved him, he must have been a fun dude, right? Well today’s gospel is the call of Levi who would be known as Matthew, Apostle and Gospel Writer. Levi was indeed a Levite meaning from the line of Aaron, in other words, he was supposed to be a priest, however, he ended up working for the Romans as a tax collector. Not only was this scandalous to his family, but tax collectors were hated by the Jews.

Jesus was hanging out in his favorite place to pray, on the boardwalk by the shore. This is where he did all his scouting, as we know from a couple days ago when he started by calling the fishermen to join his gang. This was not his first encounter with Levi/Matthew, he had been checking him out and chatting him up for some time. Remember that Jesus is all about relationship and he would never force people to follow him, but through their love of him in relationship, they follow him willingly. So when he catches Matthew’s attention and says, “Follow me,” it’s not like a hypnotist or anything creepy like that, or that scene in the Jungle Book when Kaa the boa constrictor’s eyes turn into twirling hypnotic dials of magic, or anything like that. This was “My friend, come here, I want to hang out, so follow me.” Then this is the part that cracks me up…next scene: they are having a party at Matthew’s house! All this time I thought Jesus led him to some sort of life-changing retreat, or a beautiful spot to pray, or to a nice little bench by the shore to talk, but he was like, “Levi, you have a big house, good food in your fridge, and lots of drinks in your wet bar, follow me there, and party at your house dude!!” Yes!! I do something similar to my friend Letty often. I’ll call her and say, “What’s for dinner?” Without a beat she tells me the menu and then I just show up! Now I know that Jesus did the same thing!

Think about it…if Jesus showed up at your house for dinner, choosing you out of all the people in your neighborhood, would your relationship with him change? Would your life be different? He didn’t need to condemn or scold Matthew, he simply joined him for dinner and in that joining or in that communion, Matthew and all the other sinners that Jesus obviously picked up along the way to the impromptu sinner party at Matthew’s, were changed forever. Time with Jesus changes us. Time with Jesus heals us. Time with Jesus cleanses us. Matthew did indeed leave his life of tax collecting and became one of the greatest most beloved evangelists of all time, as a result of communion with Christ. Simple and true isn’t it?

Jesus closes the story out with another funny one-liner. The Pharisees were yet again scrutinizing his every move, judging his choice of company, and being petty. I wonder if he even looked up from his guacamole when he replied with, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” Bam!!! Jesus cracks me up. And then I wonder if all the “sinners” in the room became offended or not. I think probably not, because they were most likely a few Coronas in and they probably all toasted gregariously at the mention that they were sick, because that meant that Jesus came for them specifically. Paul refers to this as his “happy fault” because it is our sin that brought Christ into the world and into our lives.

Today’s gospel reminds us that Jesus chooses us even though we sin, and most especially because we do sin. He wants to treat our illness and he wants to do that by being with us, in our company, walking along the shore, eating guacamole, celebrating the fact that he loves us even still. I feel a great sense of hope in this story and I will be thrilled when Jesus calls me and says, “What’s for dinner?” He can dine with this sinner any time!!

Reading 1 1 SM 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1

There was a stalwart man from Benjamin named Kish,
who was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror,
son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite.
He had a son named Saul, who was a handsome young man.
There was no other child of Israel more handsome than Saul;
he stood head and shoulders above the people.

Now the asses of Saul’s father, Kish, had wandered off.
Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you
and go out and hunt for the asses.”
Accordingly they went through the hill country of Ephraim,
and through the land of Shalishah.
Not finding them there,
they continued through the land of Shaalim without success.
They also went through the land of Benjamin,
but they failed to find the animals.

When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the LORD assured him,
“This is the man of whom I told you; he is to govern my people.”

Saul met Samuel in the gateway and said,
“Please tell me where the seer lives.”
Samuel answered Saul: “I am the seer.
Go up ahead of me to the high place and eat with me today.
In the morning, before dismissing you,
I will tell you whatever you wish.”

Then, from a flask he had with him, Samuel poured oil on Saul’s head;
he also kissed him, saying:
“The LORD anoints you commander over his heritage.
You are to govern the LORD’s people Israel,
and to save them from the grasp of their enemies roundabout.

“This will be the sign for you
that the LORD has anointed you commander over his heritage.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (2a) Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
O LORD, in your strength the king is glad;
in your victory how greatly he rejoices!
You have granted him his heart’s desire;
you refused not the wish of his lips.
R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
For you welcomed him with goodly blessings,
you placed on his head a crown of pure gold.
He asked life of you: you gave him
length of days forever and ever.
R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
Great is his glory in your victory;
majesty and splendor you conferred upon him.
For you made him a blessing forever;
you gladdened him with the joy of your face.
R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

Alleluia LK 4:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor
and to proclaim liberty to captives.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 2:13-17

Jesus went out along the sea.
All the crowd came to him and he taught them.
As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus,
sitting at the customs post.
Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
And he got up and followed Jesus.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples;
for there were many who followed him.
Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners
and tax collectors and said to his disciples,
“Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 
Jesus heard this and said to them,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”