Christ Has Come To Make Us Righteous Before The Father

1 Samuel 9:1-4,17-19,10:1
Mark 2:13-17

A tax collector or taxman is an official who collects unpaid taxes from a person or corporation. Tax collectors were known to exploit and ‘overtax’ everyday people to fill their coffers.  Tax collectors were notorious for being less than honest ‘bullies’ to get what they wanted at the expense of law-abiding people trying to make ends meet and take care of their families. Tax collectors work for a pagan empire, tax collectors work for the enemy. Tax collectors were despised by the people.

In Levi, Jesus saw something different– there was something that Christ saw in him perhaps some glimmer of humanity, friendliness, kindness, love, or perhaps some kernel of righteousness. Jesus called him to follow him as a disciple. He got up immediately and followed him. Jesus joined him and other tax collectors for dinner. And then, Levi who was once a publican, accounting for the Romans now accounts for the gospel of Christ as an evangelist and apostle.

The Pharisees on the other hand, those who tightly embrace the ‘letter of the law’, challenge Jesus – how can you eat with these sinners, these tax collectors, these low life…?  Once again, Jesus confronts them and challenges them with their own (false) righteousness.  The Pharisees saw themselves as above the law – the righteous enforcers and judges. One of the accusations laid against Jesus was the fact that he associated himself with the social outcast.Mk2: 15-17, Lk:7:36-50; 15:1-2; 19:1-10). That is why Jesus says to them, you think you are ‘perfect’, above the law, and therefore not in need of God’s help.

Do you feel some people cannot change? Do you regard some people as incorrigible? Do you judge people by your standard or God’s standard? Are we good Christians only at Church but outside we are wicked people? Or perhaps, you have forgotten how important just being a true witness in the everyday is to the work of the Kingdom of God? Do we do good to those who are only close to us? Do you only show your love to those who will celebrate you tomorrow? Salvation came into the house of Levi that day and was changed forever. Have you delayed your passion to follow Jesus because you are afraid of where he will send you? Do we seek favor for a favor? Do we put our judge others on our biases?

Amid everyday activities, personal and collective decisions. The Lord keeps calling us to allow him to move us, shape us, and prevent us from getting too far from him.  We, like Levi, Samuel, and Saul need to allow God to take control because he has come to make us righteous in God’s sight.

Fr Joseph Osho