Hanging around with sinners

In today’s Gospel (Mt. 9:9-13), our Lord chooses a disciple from one of the most hated and notoriously sinful professions of that time. He then sits down to an intimate dinner with a large group of public sinners.

Hanging around with sinners can be dangerous - weak human beings that we are, we must be careful – but as those entrusted by Christ to carry out his mission, we cannot associate only with those who consider themselves perfectly virtuous.

"Those who are well do not need a physician,
but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

We must be careful, but we must also reach out – especially to those we consider sinners – with the love, truth, and power of Christ.