Sister and Brothers,

There is nothing like a free meal – somebody else always pays for it. If you do not pay, then the owner of the house or the restaurant pays. Someone always has to cover the cost of the meal.

The majority understand that and work hard to earn or deserve “a meal”. We would be surprised, maybe confused, or even a bit suspicious if someone offered us something for free.

The Pharisees and the Scribes understood this too – nothing is free. Somebody always pays. So, they worked very hard to deserve God’s favour. They prayed a lot, studied the Scripture, fasted many times and followed very scrupulously all the laws and commandments they knew.

For the Pharisees and the Scribes, it was simple – if you work hard, you earn God’s love. This is justice. But they could not understand why Jesus did not focus on them and why he did not favour them. People believed that Jesus was a prophet, a man sent by God. Maybe he was even the Messiah.

So why did he talk to sinners? Why did he have a meal with the tax collectors? They did not deserve anything.

Justice is important but God’s mercy is greater.

There is nothing like a free meal. We know that, and we use that concept in our spiritual life as well. We want to deserve God’s favour and love. Maybe we do it unconsciously, maybe we do it without thinking. In Australia people try to do the “right things”. Maybe we can buy God’s favour if we do the “right things”?

The Pharisees and Scribes tried to do the right things to deserve God’s love. On the other hand, the sinners and tax collectors went to Jesus with empty hands. They had no “right things” to offer.

They knew that they were too weak and too poor to have a meal with Jesus. But they went to him anyway. They felt that they were loved even though they did not do much.

Let us forget about the concept of justice, about “paying for a meal”. We cannot buy God’s favour. Let us follow the steps of the tax collectors and join Jesus at his table. Let us have courage to ask for God’s mercy and let us go to confession and ask for forgiveness.

The meal is ready. Jesus paid for it already. On the Cross.

Have a blessed week.
Fr. Bogdan