Dinner with Levi

 

After Luke 5:27-32 

Despised by his fellows,

outcast for his collusion,

for his thievery, hated

by all for being unclean,

he sits there as he hears

the voice and sees 

the face. Follow me.

It wasn’t an option

or a choice. It wasn’t

(precisely) a command.

Instead, it was a call,

a transformation, so

startling that Levi

stands, abandons what

he’s doing, and follows.

 

Levi holds a feast,

inviting those who

associate with him,

people like himself, 

the unclean and

the despised.

The righteous grumble

when the prophet sits

and eats with the unclean.

I’m here to heal the sick,

he says. I’ve come to call

them to repent. 

 

Photograph by Cody Chan via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Sunday Readings

 

A Friend on the Trail of Tears: How a Baptist Missionary Became a Cherokee – Thomas Kidd at Desiring God. 

 

Sound of Freedom Director Announces New Movie Cabrini: It’s an Unbelievable Story’ – Michael Foust at Christian Headlines. 

 

Steps where Jesus walked and healed a blind man unearthed for first time in 2,000 years – Brianna Herlihy at Fox News.

We sit with them

After Matthew 9:9-13

We sit with the dark

to bring the light

we sit with the grief

to bring the mercy

we sit with the friendless

to bring encouragement

we sit with the sinner

to witness the salvation

we sit with the saved

to bring the redemption

we sit with the ignorant

to bring the wisdom

And they with us

for the same reasons.

Photograph by Christine Vincent via Public Domain Pictures. Used with permission.

The tax collector

After Matthew 9:9-13

He sits, the scroll in front,

making his marks, adjusting

as necessary and anticipated,

as each one in the line comes

forward, each ready to argue

and ultimately be extorted,

as necessary and anticipated,

for this is how it is done

under a rule of iron. He feels

and disregards the hot wind

of their hatred, until the one

who has nothing but his word

stands before him, face masked

by the sun behind him. A hand

is extended; a voice says follow

me, and he stands from his scroll

and follows, not knowing

how to face love.

Photograph via Free Bible Images.

Two walls

After Matthew 9:9-13

Two walls: one clean,

one not; one white,

one with dirt, streaks.

One sturdy, intact;

one crumbling.

The mason considers

both, considers

which to leave alone,

which to touch and heal.

Photograph by Lynn Greyling via Public Domain Pictures. Used with permission.