(Please read the Scripture passage before reading the homily.)
He ate with tax collectors and sinners! Can you imagine that? On the other hand, with whom do you think Christ would not eat, for everyone is sinner?
The sinless God took on human flesh in order to become all things to all people. He could eat and drink with reputable people and also with tax collectors and sinners. To the clean, he was clean; to the unclean he made himself unclean. He was available to the gay and to the straight. To the sick and to the healthy he was available. He welcomed all who would come to him in sincerity of heart. He still welcomes all who come to him.
This is what the Church teaches, that Christ died for all and that Christ welcomes all sinners. Even as death fastens its grip on the world’s worst sinner and pariah, Christ is knocking on that person’s door, inviting himself in for supper.
Christ is at the border welcoming newcomers into the community. Christ is at the doors of all national and state leaders of government, inviting himself into their lives. Christ sits at table with straight people and gay people; with those in relationships and those not in relationships. He has a place for all at his table. He welcomes predators and police, young and old, all genders and sexes, the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful, the wild and the tame: He came to call sinners to salvation.
What can we take away from this? That if we are followers of Christ, we must become like Christ in welcoming people to our table and feasts. To Republicans and Democrats, we must become both. To the gay we must become gay and to the straight, straight. To the youth we must be youthful, to the aged, mature. To the taxpayer as to the tax collector, we must be taxpayer and tax collector. In our lives, we must reflect Christ’s presence to the whole mix of the human population with all its good points and challenges.
The healthy do not need the physician, but God desires mercy and not sacrifice.