Matthew 11:16
The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, 'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'
Today's gospel reading from Matthew starts out by Jesus, almost exasperatingly saying, "To what shall I compare this generation?" He sounds like a parent lamenting over the actions of his children. He goes on to say that I have given you things, and you don't use them, or you label them incorrectly. You can almost hear him saying, "Open your eyes and ears!!!" The locals see Jesus not as the Son of God, but almost as a fool, eating with tax collectors and sinners. They do not give him respect because they don't give respect to tax collectors and sinners either.
In reading this passage, are you part of the generation of which Jesus is referring, or are you like Jesus, willing to eat with tax collectors and sinners? I don't know about you but I'm probably more like the generation Jesus spoke of. Jesus went out into the world to the less fortunate, to the desperate, to those that need to turn their lives around. He went to places that make us uncomfortable. Are we (am I) willing to eat with tax collectors and sinners? Am I willing to visit those in prison, dine with someone dirty, sit and talk with someone homeless? When it comes down to it, it's a hard decision, but it shouldn't be. Pray today for the faith, courage and strength to greet people where they are, not to judge, but to come with a loving and generous heart, especially this Advent season.
