Thursday 4 November 2021
St Charles Borromeo
Romans 14:7-12. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living – Psalm 26(27):1-4, 13-14. Luke 15:1-10.
This man welcomes sinners and eats with them
Jesus had impeccable taste. The tax collectors and prostitutes were probably much better company than the pharisees and scribes. The latter seemed a miserable lot. Instead of experiencing constant monitoring and judgment, Jesus could enjoy a meal with people who were very basic. His attitude is far from that of proponents of the ‘prosperity gospel’. Jesus goes looking for those who have lost their way. He shares their meal, accepting them, listening to them. For many of them, knowing that they were outcasts, this must have been a rare experience of understanding and compassion.
My grandmother had a saying, ‘Show me your companions and I’ll tell you what you are’. Another test could be, what people do I exclude? Jesus had good friends and companions, but he also reached out to those who had been rejected by respectable people.
Where do I stand?
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