In today's Luke reading, Jesus calls Levi, a tax collector, to follow him. In Jesus' day, tax collectors were not workers for the IRS. They were contractors who collaborated with the occupying Roman Empire. They were allowed to use Roman soldiers to force collections, and they could keep for themselves any amount collected beyond what went to Rome. Tax collectors were therefore seen as greedy, criminal, and traitorous, having turned against their fellow Jews for the chance to become wealthy.
When Jesus calls Levi, people object. It is the scribes and Pharisees who speak up, but likely most everyone would have shared their feelings. Jesus responds by saying, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance."
There is a famous quote -- attributed to Abigail Van Buren -- about the church being "a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints." But I wonder how many people like Levi, people labeled sinners by the public, would feel welcome at most congregations.
Lord, show me how to be more welcoming to those you call.
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