to seek and to save

In the One Year Bible today, we read from Luke 19:1-27. Jesus tells us very clearly that He came to seek out and save sinners. The phrase pops out of the story about Zacchaeus. Jesus invites Himself over to his house, knowing that he was a notorious sinner. And those who consider themselves righteous murmur among themselves and say, "This great "messiah" is hanging out with a sinner?"

It's funny that the pattern just keeps repeating itself over and over through history. Today, we find the same thing. People who get their hands dirty in helping the poor and forgotten, like St Mother Teresa (her official title is St. Teresa of Calcutta, but you know who I mean) or Amy Carmichael or John Paul II or Dorothy Day... they cause people to mutter, too. To wonder how in the world they can claim to be holy when they associate with "known sinners".

But that phrase.... when you stop and ponder it, you find something pretty profound. Those people - the tax collectors and prostitutes and so forth... they're KNOWN sinners. They can't hide it. Everyone knows they've sinned. And so they're very grateful for the forgiveness that Jesus offers, because it heals the wounds that everyone can see.

However, those who are muttering and murmuring about how this preacher is going too easy on sin, or that Pope is being too welcoming to sinners...they've done too good a job of covering up their sin. They have even convinced themselves that they don't have any sins that need forgiving.

Jesus had harsh words for them back then. And His words still apply today. Not because He hates those people... but because He loves them. And as long as they keep deceiving everyone, especially themselves, that they are perfect people who don't need forgiveness... they're falling into the greatest of all sins: pride. And that pride will destroy them, unless they learn to see that they too need forgiveness, just like the prostitute, just like Zacchaeus.... just like me.

God, please help all of us to see that we're sinners who need You.