June 7, 2026      Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax-collection station, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.
  10 And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with Jesus and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.”  …
  18 While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. 20 Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from a flow of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, 21 for she was saying to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.” 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that moment. 23 When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24 he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. 26 And the report of this spread through all of that district.

Mercy, grace, and peace be yours from Jesus our Lord. It is what he offers and wants us to pass along. 

If you are behind on filing your taxes, if you owe money to the IRS, you should be afraid, you should be very afraid, your wages will be garnished, they can take your house, and so goes the commercial on the radio station I listen to on my way to the office. I want music to stir my soul and lift my spirits and what do I receive? I get so disgusted, it comes on nearly every time I am driving. It is, of course an endeavor to make me hate the IRS and taxes and believe that they are out to get me. It is setting up an ‘us against them scenario.’ We are to be convinced that there is a line which should be drawn between citizens and tax collectors. Things have changed very little between the days of the Roman Empire and today’s government. No one wants to have anything to do with those who demand and collect taxes. Such an attitude does not deter Jesus; he goes ahead and calls Matthew the tax collector to be one of his disciples. Surprisingly enough, Matthew responds immediately and leaves his lucrative and probably dishonest dealings behind to follow Jesus. He even celebrates this occurrence, inviting colleagues and friends to a feast, to which Jesus also attends. The religious segment of the neighborhood could not understand why Jesus would involve himself with such individuals! To join in a meal was to accept them as worthy companions, as friends. 

Jesus lived his message.  The Pharisees could not figure why He would treat them as equals, to show such respect! Then He makes the reason for his behavior plain when he responds: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick!” You can see that He is not only concerned with the physical health of people. Jesus wants them to know all are welcome into the community.  It is not an ‘us against them’ but it is all of us together, working to create a renewed and better place to live and grow. It was not only the acknowledged sinners who were being invited to join in but those religious leaders too, for they may have seemed asymptomatic but were actually sick as well.

Because those who viewed themselves as being in right relationship with God were mistaking their situation, Jesus gave this directive: Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ 

In the accounts which come next Jesus shows exactly what he has in mind. He responds to the socially and religiously acceptable and the unacceptable, the insiders and the outcast, providing healing and restoration to both. It is never who you are in the worldly scheme of things that matters, it only matters WHOSE you are. You belong to God. It is then you begin to understand just what it means when Jesus calls us to follow!

The leader of the local synagogue came to Jesus desperate to have Jesus restore his daughter to life. He is shown here to believe that it was within Jesus’ power to do so. It would be great press for Jesus to demonstrate his authority in this high-profile case. That is often how we think and are motivated, probably not true of Jesus. He does leave with the man and indeed brings her back to life and returns her to this father. It is even noted that word did spread of the miracle that happened. You may wonder though who, if any, noticed or took the time to report about the other marvel that happened in the midst of the girl’s amazing story. The outcast woman who had suffered for years, snuck up behind Jesus assuring herself that all she needed was a brief connection with this holy man to bring her help. She made no formal request, did not beg for attention, she merely trusted. She didn’t want to bring notice to herself for her experience had told her she would then be open for rejection. By her peers and religion, she had been judged to be a sinner and was being punished for some wrong or shortcoming in herself, so in other words she got what she deserved. But, oh, she was lonely, weak, worn out, and anxious. Jesus did notice her action and understood her reasons for seeking him out, recognizing the courage and desperate hope that motivated her. His immediate response: “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And it was so! Jesus acted out of mercy in both of these situations. 

Jesus is reaching out to us to do the same as we encounter our neighbors. We are not to judge if we find them worthy of our help. We are not to check their church affiliation. We don’t need to examine their ID. If you see their need, if you become aware of the burden they are carrying, and you can help - the answer is before you. This past week we had a request from a neighbor in the motel/apartment housing next door. He needed to move out, he had no vehicle, he sort of had a new arrangement for a new place to go. He really had not moved before and wasn’t too sure how to go about things. Someone suggested he try the church for help. Thankfully I know a guy who is generous with time and has the right type of vehicle for that kind of job and is strong enough to move some overloaded boxes. It was a blessing to be able to make that move possible for him, he definitely needed assistance. It is unfortunate that there are individuals who end up in such situations. At the same time we had another young man who had no where to live and was staying overnight in our pavilion. He was embarrassed but polite and made no mess or trouble. Two nights was all he required before his paycheck was available and then he took off on his bicycle with his meager belongings and doggie companion. I don’t know where he was headed and can only pray that he will be okay. May mercy be ever our guide and restoration be the outcome of our actions. Let us be known by Jesus’ name.