Come to the party - July 14
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 38; PM Psalm 119:25-48; 1 Samuel 20:1-23; Acts 12:18-25; Mark 2:13-22
Jesus went out again beside the lake; the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them. As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.
And as he sat at dinner in Levi’s house, many tax-collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples—for there were many who followed him. (Mark 2:13-15)
This passage from Mark has a lot going on. The narrator advises us of several things at play in this scene: Jesus is by the water. He is surrounded by people. He is teaching them. And then he and the crowd walk past a tax booth staffed by Levi. Jesus says, “Follow me.” Levi does just this. Then, the parade of people break their travel at Levi’s house and have dinner.
As I slow down and envision the scripture coming to life, I have a couple of questions. First is this: there is a tax booth somewhere near the lake. I imagine the booth resembling Lucy’s psychiatric help booth from the Peanuts cartoon, and just on the shoreline (as it is summertime and I have beach on the brain). However, I also imagine the water being a bit away from the city center, so it sounds comical that a tax collection station would be set up remotely – and maybe on a beach?
The second point that stops me short this morning revolves around the shared meal. In truth, this is an impromptu party, where folks just arrive and begin the festivities at Levi’s house, from as much as scripture tells us. Now, perhaps there was more dialogue – like we have in the story of Zaccheus the tax collector (Luke 19:1-10), in which Jesus tells the wealthy chief tax collector that he is coming to his house. Maybe Levi offers his home as a venue along the way. I don’t know about your house, but my abode is not always ready at a moment’s notice to welcome a pop-up dinner gathering. (That being said, it would delight my daughter to no end to have our entire church family come to our house for a party!)
At the heart of this excerpt from Mark, I love the desire for gathering together as community, sharing a meal, and putting aside the differences that keep us apart. Jesus knows that we all need nourishment and inclusion, whether we have been sitting alone or have our peer group to bring us assurance. What a joy and grace it must have been to sit with Jesus and tell stories and listen to one another.
The Messiah challenges us to be vulnerable and be open to receiving the healing love of God. When we are open to receive, our hearts will flutter and we’ll feel that exhilaration and hopefulness that comes with something fresh and joyful – a new vista, a surprising connection, or a brush with angels’ wings. Join me in the joy and trepidation of being vulnerable to need God’s healing today.
-- Katherine+
Questions for Reflection
When have you been surprised by someone who invited you to join them?
Think of a time when you invited someone to come to church or talk about the Bible or prayer. What did you share? What did you learn?
Daily Challenge
Find a way to sit in stillness today for five minutes. Breathe deeply. Imagine being open and receiving healing from Jesus. Pray for your own needs. Then take time to pray for the needs of others. End in words of gratitude for God.