Homily for June 8, 2008

10TH SUNDAY A, 2008

There are probably no three letters that bring concern and stress to the average American, and for some persons, more fear, than the letters IRS. As most of you know, they stand for the Internal Revenue Service. the United States income tax collector. Yet, at one time or another in our lives, nearly everyone will owe a tax bill they can't pay, need extra time to file a tax return, or even get audited. And there are accountants and lawyers that we can hire to deal with these tax collectors. For most Americans taxes are the debts we are least willing to pay. As our country has gotten older, we find that more and more services or products or property are being taxed. And in many cases we have no choice as to how our tax money is being used other than what an elected official tells us. Taxes have also developed a whole occupation of tax collectors.

Taxes and tax collectors, however, have been around for centuries. Very often these persons were not always admired by the general population. And if you were too friendly with the tax collectors, you too got the same curse as did the tax collector. Today’s Gospel story is about Jesus having dinner with Matthew, a Jewish tax collector for the Roman government. Palestine had been conquered by the Romans. The Roman government hired some Jews to collect taxes from the Jewish people. They collected money from their neighbors and sent it off to Rome. The money collected from these taxes paid for the Roman soldiers who kept the Jewish people in slavery. At times the tax collectors also kept some of the money for themselves. Tax collectors were considered by the Jewish people as the chief sinners. Matthew was such a person.

One evening Matthew invites Jesus for dinner. And Jesus accepts. The Pharisees who were suspicious of Jesus heard about it, and must have been watching through the window of Matthew’s house. They see Jesus sitting at table with Matthew, finishing the main course and getting ready for dessert. And so they add this to their complaints about Jesus.

Without any background check on Matthew Jesus says to him: Follow me. Of course, there is no need for a background check. Jesus looks at Matthew and knows his background: he is a traitor, an outcast, and a sinner. But, instead of saying: Shame on you for what you’ve done, Jesus says: Follow me. Instead of saying once you get your act together you can think about coming along, Jesus says: Follow me. Matthew gives up his job as a tax collector and decides to work with Jesus. But the new job with Jesus also required a whole new way of dealing with persons.

Jesus main problem, however, was not in teaching Matthew a new way of life, but in dealing with the Pharisees. The Pharisees were religious men attempting to hold the Jews together under the rule of God’s laws. This apparently legalistic approach drives them crazy when Jesus violates, what they believe to be, God’s law and God’s Will for all Jews.

The Pharisees are aware of Jesus doing healings in their district. Sickness was an indication that the sick persons or their parents had sinned. Jesus uses the illness image to summarize what He had been doing and why gathering sinners and curing the sick were really the same work of God. The pharisees do not see themselves as sick nor sinners so Jesus is telling them that this is why He cannot relate with them and why they cannot understand and accept Him.

At times during our day, or at least during our lifetime we are most likely both the tax collectors and the Pharisees. Usually we are better at judging the actions, and motives of others, but about ourselves, we are so sure about things that we do not have to spend time judging them.

One other gift we have been given is compassion and understanding. When we understand then compassion is not only easier, but automatic. Compassion goes beyond, relies on God’s ways rather than our ability to collect enough information to render a judgement of forgiveness.

This is what Jesus is trying to teach us today with the story of Matthew. Jesus teaches us the acceptance of others, regardless of their background, or way of life. Jesus’ response to the Pharisees is simple. Sinners are the people he lives and dies for. Sinners need mercy, not rejection. There are no requirements for us to meet before we follow Jesus. There is no need for letters of reference from three people who can prove to our outstanding character. And there are no background checks.

Jesus teaches us that religion is more than observing certain rules and worshipping in a prescribed way. Jesus quotes: I DESIRE MERCY, NOT SACRIFICE. These are the same words we heard from Hosea in our first reading. I am not saying that laws and commandments are not needed. They are needed and we must follow them, and when we fail we are to ask for forgiveness. Yes, at times mistakes and evil must be identified. But mercy must not get lost.

I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners. The invitation given to Matthew is given to us as well. Follow me.