March 19, 2013

Mark 2:15-20

Later Jesus and his disciples were at home having supper with a collection of disreputable guests. Unlikely as it seems, more than a few of them had become followers. The religion scholars and Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company and lit into his disciples: “What kind of example is this, acting cozy with the riffraff?”

 Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting the sick, not the spiritually fit.”

The disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees made a practice of fasting. Some people confronted Jesus: “Why do the followers of John and the Pharisees take on the discipline of fasting, but your followers don’t?”

Jesus said, “When you’re celebrating a wedding, you don’t skimp on the cake and wine. You feast. Later you may need to pull in your belt, but not now. As long as the bride and groom are with you, you have a good time. No one throws cold water on a friendly bonfire. This is Kingdom Come!”

Reflection questions: Think about these sayings of Jesus.  How similar are they to your thoughts about religion?  Do you think that people who are sinners should come to church or should they just stay home so all the “good” people can enjoy church?  And what about him eating and drinking with the “riffraff”?  Is that how a man of God should act?

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