Life Outside the Church

Scripture – Mark 2:13-17: ¹³Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. ¹⁴As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. ¹⁵While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. ¹⁶When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” ¹⁷On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Reflection: So, Levi got up and followed Jesus. He left his tax collecting business in the midst of work. That’s an interesting scene in itself. Was he in the middle of a tax return? Was the next in line left wondering what to do? That, of course, is left to imagination.

What we can see is, though Levi started out following Jesus, somehow they ended up at Levi’s house for a dinner party. And many people who had been shut out of the religion of their day had the opportunity to see and know Jesus.

Who are those people today? Who are the people who feel unwelcome or uncomfortable in a church setting, but would enjoy meeting Jesus?

Lord, first of all, help me recognize the “Levis” around me. Then open the door to their homes and friends for me. Then use me to invite these folks into a personal relationship with you. I’ve thought about this for a long time. If it’s part of your plan, use me to help people come to you.