Union Church

Matthew 9: 9,10

Jesus sees a tax collector, named Matthew working at his tax booth. Now I’m not certain if this was a tax booth or a toll booth like the ones they are threatening to set up around the island of Montreal.

In any event, tax collectors were not the type of people the average person would want to hang out with.
Tax collectors were considered unclean, untrustworthy, traitors, and social outcasts.
They were not friend material and definitely not what we might consider disciple material.

But Jesus considers Matthew, Jesus chooses Matthew as a disciple.

So often we don’t consider ourselves disciple material.
We don’t think that the call comes to us.
We think the call only comes to people who go into the ministry.

The truth is, you have been called.
That is why you are here today.

And you are being called in your daily life.
Jesus calls Matthew in the middle of his work day.
God calls us in the middle of our work day.

The first step is that we have to hear the call.

The second step is that we have to accept the call.

The third step is we have to follow the call.

But following Jesus at the beginning of his ministry and following Jesus 2,000 years later is very different.
The difference is that through the Risen Christ, the call comes to us in every minute, in every moment, in every situation.
It is a spiritual call.
It is an inner call.
It is a call to intensified humanity that blesses the world.
It blesses the world through us.

Let’s sing hymn 567 Will You Come and Follow Me.
As you sing, be aware of the things you are already doing and be aware of the things you are now being called to do.

What Does This Mean?
Matthew 9: 10-13.

Jesus says, “Go and learn what this means.
I desire mercy not sacrifice.”

When Jesus says this, he is quoting the prophet Hosea. So let’s unpack this ancient saying.

Sacrifice for Hosea and Jesus meant the offering of animals as blood sacrifices to God, to atone for sins and purify the body.
When we hear the word “sacrifice” used in 2008 we don’t usually think of it in this manner.
The animals had to be young and without blemish before they could be slaughtered and their blood sprinkled on the alter of the Temple.
In Jesus’ day, they had to be purchased in the Outer Temple Court at inflated prices. So only the wealthy and the educated classes could afford to offer sacrifices on a regular basis.

Imagine how many people were left out.
Imagine how many people were considered unclean or unable to atone for their sins.
The gap between the haves and have nots became the gap between the respectable people who made sacrificial offerings and the unrespectable people who couldn’t afford to.
Respectable versus unrespectable.

This is why Jesus and the prophets resisted and spoke out against the practises of the Temple.

So, when Jesus says “I want mercy not sacrifice” we need to translate it for today to “I want mercy, not respectability.”

Respectability means those who are acceptable,
those who have the right manners.

When we make respectability a priority in our lives, we show mercy only to those who are respectable and have the acceptable manners.

The term mercy is a little old fashioned but it means offering forgiveness with inclusion with inclusiveness, forgiveness that still invites us to belong.
We all know we can forgive, if we have to, and keep right on excluding.
We know how to look the other way and wait until the person or situation moves on. But the mercy that Jesus wants is a mercy that forgives and includes.
When we are busy being respectable, it is very hard to forgive and include others who are not like ourselves.
When we are trying to be respectable, it is hard to be merciful.

Let’s be honest here. We all have edges.
We all have our comfort zones.
We have our version of what is respectable behaviour.
We have our version when it comes to acceptable manners.
And we find it very difficult to be open to and accept those who break our code of ethics,
our code of correct behaviour.

The problem, as Jesus is telling us, is that acceptable manners, respectable behaviour creates a barrier between us and the needs of others.

As Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners, the respectable ones take a fit. And so Jesus tells them, “Go and learn what this means: I want mercy not respectability.”

To be a Christina community is a work in process.
We learn together what God wants.
We learn the mercy that Jesus expects.

In our Kid’s Program, with our Youth activities, and as an Affirming and Welcoming Congregation we are teaching, we are modelling forgiveness with inclusion.

And you know, a funny thing happens, a healing thing happens along the way.
In our actions of forgiving and including, we discover as individuals and as a community of faith, places where we also need to be forgiven and included.

And so we share, we participate in God’s New Day.