Professor Marvel

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.” (Mark 2:13-17)

Tax collectors worked for the Romans.  It was Roman tax – unfair and oppressive often used as a way to seize land for Roman use and to benefit the wealthy.  No wonder Jesus gave them their own category along with the general term of sinners.  And no wonder he sat at table and ate with them.   They were the “sick” – the ones who needed conversion and a cure offered by Jesus.   That cure was to be “turned” to a new direction and place – to the Kingdom of God and love of neighbor.

Would we ever eat at the table with sinners?  By eat I mean to take the time to understand other positions and views, not necessarily to agree but at least to respect those who differ with us.  We’re all guilty of  "sitting at tables" with those who share and confirm our opinions.  Perhaps we the ones in need of physicians because we are not well.

By following Jesus we become part of his travelling medicine-man show with him being our Professor Marvel helping us remember who is most important in our lives and how to heal – sort of like the Professor in the Wizard of Oz helping Dorothy decide to return home.

Deacon David Pierce