“When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when Jesus heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.’” [Matthew 9:11-13]
Why is that we think must clean up and have our act together before God will be interested in us? Isn’t it ironic that the good church folk, the Pharisees in this story, were all about keeping other people away from Jesus? Jesus, of course, knows exactly how to respond to their concerns, “Those who are well have no need of a physician.” Indeed, we don’t need a physician until we do. Until we are sick and in need of healing. The problem with the good church folk in this story is they don’t realize they need healing, too. As we read elsewhere in scripture, “All have fallen short of the glory of God.” So, it is good news that Jesus says, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.” Jesus came for all of us whether we know it or not! Again, this is good news because we don’t have to clean up first or have our act together to be welcomed by Jesus. As Anne Lamott confessed, “I do not at all understand the mystery of grace – only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.”
Prayer
Jesus, I am so thankful that you meet me where I am at. I certainly need the mystery of your grace in my life. Help me to not be an impediment to others who seek you, for you “desire mercy, not sacrifice” from me. Amen.
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