Monday 21 September 2009

Background

This section of the Gospel of Matthew begins with Jesus on themove yet again. It seems he barely breaks his stride when he callsto Matthew the tax collector to leave his tax booth and follow him.Matthew seems to respond just as decisively and we read that "hegot up and followed him", even though he was right in the middle ofwhat was likely to be a busy working day. Matthew seems to havebeen Jesus' way into the tax collecting (and therefore 'sinning')community, as they later "sat at dinner in the house".

Sticking to type, the Pharisees (the teachers of the Jewish Law)start needling the disciples about the wisdom of such an activity.Strict adherence to their religious laws (essential for the buddingPharisee) meant avoiding any contact with those who didn't abide bythe same code, of whom the tax collectors were an excellentexample. One can imagine the cultural gulf between the two groups,the points of connection between them diminishing over time as thehierarchy embedded deeper and deeper into society.

And so it was with disgust and surprise that the Pharisees reactedto the word on the street that Jesus was having a meal with a crowdof tax collectors. Jesus' response that only sick people need theirdoctors highlighted the Pharisees' exclusive religiosity and thetax collectors' spiritual needs. Jesus' directive to learn that "Idesire mercy, not sacrifice" (quoting Hosea 6:6) goesfurther in pulling the familiar rug from out beneath the Pharisees'comfortably placed posteriors.

Jesus makes it clear that religious sacrifice, ritual and traditiondo very little for him. On the contrary, he is much more interestedin how the mercy shown to the Pharisees by God spills out intotheir interactions with those they spent time with, lived among,met casually or passed by on the street. Which is just as radicaland energising in the 21st century as it was in 1st centuryPalestine.

To Ponder

In our communities there are great cultural gulfsbetween different groupings of people. Who are the 'us' and 'them'in your local community?

Jesus' interchange with the Pharisees is a goodreminder to those of us who become overly preoccupied with ourreligion, in the sense of 'doing the right thing', as opposed to'being loving'. How does spending time with people on the 'outside'affect your faith?

Are there people in your life or your communitywho have relationships with others who are ostracised? Is thereanything about their life that inspires or encourages you?