(Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26)

 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax-collecting station, and he said to him, “Follow me.”  And he got up and followed him.

And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with Jesus and his disciples.  When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners.”  But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’  For I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.”…

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.”  And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples.  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, for she was saying to herself, “  If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.”  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.  When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.”  And they laughed at him.  But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up.  And the report of this spread through all of that district.

When I hear this collection of stories read together, I am reminded of a song from the rock opera, “Jesus Christ Superstar.”  Some of you may be familiar with it from way back in the 1970’s.  The song I’m thinking of begins with the lyrics, “What’s the buzz?  Tell me what’s happening.”  This is repeated over and over.  It is chaotic and crazy just like this text when we hear over and over how Jesus was in demand by everyone, especially those who were sick and in need, even those who were on the periphery of society, those who had been rejected by the religious authorities.  The song gets crazy as does the scripture text. 

              The song is suddenly interrupted by Jesus shouting, “Why should you want to know?  Don’t you mind about the future, don’t you try to think ahead.  Save tomorrow for tomorrow.  Think about today instead.”

              And so, in the lesson it seems like Jesus took his time getting to the daughter of the leader who implored him to go to her and lay his hand on her, even though it seemed she was already dead.  The leader was absolutely certain that, if he did that, she would live. 

              That’s where the lesson goes after Jesus had sat down to dinner with the tax collectors and sinners.  But let’s go back to where the narrative begins.  Jesus was walking along, and he saw the tax collector, Matthew.  Now, tax collectors were considered unclean, untouchable.  Matthew, as a tax collector, was ritually unclean, that is, he would have been thought of as completely outside God’s love.  He was unforgiveable. 

That’s the background story as Jesus invited Matthew to follow him.  The message in that invitation was that Matthew was released from the bondage that had kept him out of the temple and unable to access God’s love.  Jesus released him and sat down to dinner with him, this unclean, unforgivable man.  This forgiveness that Jesus offered was absolutely and totally inclusive. 

Jesus put a point on this welcoming and loving by having dinner with Matthew and his “hoodlum friends,” to use Rick’s favorite expression.  When the religious leaders saw this, they confronted the disciples, asking “Why does your leader sit down to eat with these rejects of society.  Jesus answered, essentially, “they need me.”  It’s as though he is saying, “I’m not even inviting those who are considered to be “righteous,” the insiders.  No, I’m calling those who know they need me.  I don’t want to mess around with folks who are all concerned with religious practice like sacrifice.  I want to be there for folks who are ready to receive mercy and will turn around and be merciful to others.”

And then, when Jesus was on his way to the leader’s daughter who was reportedly dead, he was suddenly interrupted by a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years.  She had touched him.  Again, a Jew from that time knew that she was completely and totally unclean.  Women who were bleeding were not to interact with anyone.  Yet, our Jesus reached out and declared, “Take heart, daughter, your faith has made you well.”  Again, in the Jesus House, all are welcome.  All are included.  No one is unclean or unforgiveable. 

Then, when he arrived at the leader’s house, the funeral rituals had already begun.  The flute players had been summoned, the crowd had gathered for the wake.  But Jesus declared that the girl was not dead, only sleeping.  So he took her by the hand and she got up.  Again, we can make some meaning out of Jesus touching this supposedly dead person.  All are within God’s love.  No one is excluded.

So, what can this possibly mean for us?  Other than everything!  When we say, “All are welcome!” we better mean it because Jesus did.  Jesus turned the rules and regulations and all the barriers upside down.  He showed us that no one can be deprived of God’s love.  There are no ifs ands or buts.  Of course we’re all sinners, but this does not keep us from being loved by God.  Jesus has made it so very clear in this piece of scripture.

I remember back many decades ago, there were good and wonderful people even here who didn’t think they were worthy to come to the communion table.  They knelt at the altar rail and wept as they received the bread and the cup.  It was a sad occasion for one whom I especially remember, rather than a celebration of Jesus’ arms wide open, welcoming us all.

I’m reminded of Holly Spencer-Trueman and her husband Joe’s wedding.  We had it at the Library Gazebo.  Holly and Joe wanted to have communion, and so we decided that everyone should partake, not just the bride and groom because we don’t eat and drink in front of others without including them.

So Holly’s parents, Jim and Jan Spencer commissioned several chalices and plates from Debra and Stephan Bures of Elements Gallery here in Peninsula, and we fed everyone present.  This is how it’s done when everyone is included.

Some other examples of opportunities for radical inclusion are trans folks.  Sometimes they stand out as different and might cause us to feel uncomfortable, but the Jesus message is clear: “All are included.  All are welcome.”  There is absolutely no limit to God’s love and our love. 

It’s possible that people might walk in who have different religious beliefs than we do or differ politically from us.  All are welcome in the Jesus House.  There may be folks who have been incarcerated or who have had convictions that might put them on a sexual predator list.  Of course we will make sure our children are safe and that our congregants are safe, but we will not declare to them that they are outside God’s love and possibility for forgiveness.

This is today’s message: Jesus demonstrates this radical message of love and inclusion.  In our day, this especially includes immigrants of all sorts.  Jesus set the standard, role modeling love and welcoming.  This is our job, as well.  Give thanks to God for the opportunity to reach out in love and concern for ALL God’s people.  Amen.