Septuagesimae 28 Jan 2012

Dr Lutz Ackermann (Friedenskirche, Hillbrow)

Jesus and the tax collector: a meeting with consequences (Matthew 9:9-13) Jesus left that place, and as he walked along, he saw a tax collector, named Matthew, sitting in his office. He said to him, "Follow me." Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having a meal in Matthew's house, many tax collectors and other outcasts came and joined Jesus and his disciples at the table. Some Pharisees saw this and asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with such people?" Jesus heard them and answered, "People who are well do not need a doctor, but only those who are sick. Go and find out what is meant by the scripture that says: 'It is kindness that I want, not animal sacrifices.' I have not come to call respectable people, but outcasts." (Mat 9:9-13) Und da Jesus von dannen ging, sah er einen Menschen am Zoll sitzen, der hie Matthus; und er sprach zu ihm: Folge mir! Und er stand auf und folgte ihm. Und es begab sich, da er zu Tische sa im Hause, siehe, da kamen viele Zllner und Snder und saen zu Tische mit Jesu und seinen Jngern. Da das die Phariser sahen, sprachen sie zu seinen Jngern: Warum isset euer Meister mit den Zllnern und Sndern? Da das Jesus hrte, sprach er zu ihnen: Die Starken bedrfen des Arztes nicht, sondern die Kranken. Gehet aber hin und lernet, was das sei: "Ich
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habe Wohlgefallen an Barmherzigkeit und nicht am Opfer." Ich bin gekommen die Snder zur Bue zu rufen, und nicht die Gerechten.

[prayer] [30 sec silence] Are you waiting for something? I bet you are. You are waiting for me to start my sermon! Well, the good news id: I have started my sermon already 30 seconds ago its just that I havent said anything so far I greet you all in the name of Jesus. As we are looking at this text this morning, of Jesus calling the tax collector Matthew, thats the one big question that came to my mind: what are you waiting for? It is a question I want to as the tax collector in our biblical narrative. It is so short, everything goes so quick: Jesus, came, said follow me and Matthew got up and followed. Thats it. That is the core of the story, one verse. And this is the question I want to ask that man: what are you waiting for? Lets step into that mans world for a moment. The Gospel of Matthew calls him Mathew. Or rather, the Gospel of Mathew is called the Gospel of Matthew mainly because of this verse! We dont know, why the writer calls this character Matthew, which was the name of one of the twelve apostels but he does. I dont even know, why he tells this story, but I know that this little encounter is
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important. It consequences.

is a

meeting

that has got

major

This story is so short that we have to listen very carefully, not only to what we are told but equally to what we are not told. We are told, where Jesus came from we are not told, where Matthew came from (pops up out of nowhere). We are told, what Jesus said to Matthew we are not told what if anything at all Matthew said to Jesus! We are told, what motivates, what drives Jesus to say and to do what he says and does (conversation with the Pharisees, need, mercy) we are not told what drives Matthew to do what he does (get up and follow) And the one thing that bugs me most: we are not told, what Matthew is waiting for. I want to grab him, take him aside and ask: Matthew, what are you waiting for? I mean, what have you been waiting for, all this time? What made this one day so different from all the other days before, when you also sat there; when you also collected taxes but when you didnt get up? So many questions, and we dont know. So lets try to step into his world for a moment. So I guess, that day he got up like every other day. Was there something special? We dont know. He went to work, as usual. But wait a minute, why did he work as a tax
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collector in the first place? We dont know. I mean, who wants to be a tax collector? As collaborators with the empire, they werent very popular. Maybe he just did it, because even his father and his grandfather had been tax collectors and he didnt know anything else to do. We dont know. Maybe it doesnt matter. What does matter is that on that morning something was different. Something special happened. And I get the funny feeling, this is what Matthew has been waiting for. Hes been waiting for this, day by day. Hes been waiting for this all his life. I mean, just imagine: here comes someone, says follow me and there he goes. Matthew gets up and follows. Thats it. Now that man is ready. No debate, no hesitation. He gets up, he goes, he follows. This tells me the story about a man who is ready. He hears that one word follow and that is what he does. This is his chance. This is what hes been waiting for. Maybe he didnt know. Maybe he would never have imagined that one day he would get up and go. But this is his chance. A second one might never come, who knows? I dont know. Mathew didnt know. All he knew is that he had to get up, there and then and go; and follow. And so, this morning, I am asking myself: what is he waiting for, there, sitting there at the toll office? , I am asking Matthew: what are you waiting for? What is it that you have been waiting for all your life? And all of a sudden that question turns back, and I am asking myself: what is it that I am waiting for? And I am asking you: what is it that you are waiting for?
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I am asking this question, Matthew, because you were ready. I can see that, because it took only one word follow - and you got up and you did it. So I can see, you were ready and I am asking: what are you waiting for? I mean, if you are ready to get up today, what were you waiting for yesterday? Why didnt you get up yesterday? Were you waiting for something special to happen? Were you waiting for someone special to come and say these words to you: Follow me Follow me: that means, walk with me. Walk the same way that I walk, walk behind me on that path. Follow my teaching, live the sort of life I live. And Jesus had told people what kind of life that was; it was a narrow and difficult path. So yes, when he said to Matthew follow me and when he says to you and to me follow me its a challenge. But Matthew was ready for that challenge. Maybe this is, what he had been waiting for. Maybe he had been playing with that thought before. We dont know. All we are told is that on that day he gets up and follows. He is ready. Are you? Are we? Ready to get up and follow today? But have you noticed, his answer is not one of many words. In fact, the gospel narration doesnt even report a single word from his mouth. Surely he must have said something or maybe not? We dont know? All it says is he got up and did it. He followed Jesus. And that is what counts, that is what really matters. It would have been pretty useless, had he got up to read a nicely worded press release and then done nothing about it. He got up, it says, and followed him. Next we see
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him in his house; his friends, his colleagues are there, and with him is Jesus. This encounter is one that turns his life around, one that has got consequences. His answer to the challenge may not be one of many words but one of actions, of deeds. Jesus says to him follow me and that is what Matthew does. And that is what counts. Getting up, following him: that is his response, his answer. There is no need for pious declarations. Maybe not everyone was happy about this. Maybe the other tax collectors laughed at him or sneered at him. Maybe thats why Matthew invited them, maybe he was thinking if only they can meet Jesus they will understand. They will see clearer why I did what I did. Maybe thats what Matthew thought, we dont know. Maybe he was even able to convince some of his colleagues to also follow Jesus in the end we dont know. But one thing we do know: the Pharisees didnt like what was happening there. If Jesus calls people to be his disciples, to follow him, that was ok. But not people like that. But you know, Jesus does it: he does call people like that to follow. And Matthew does it: he does get up and follow. They dont ask what do others say or do or even think about it. They just do it. The way is narrow, not many will follow it. But thats ok, Mathew, as long as you follow!

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And then something else happens. When the Pharisees launch their complaint, they talk about tax collectors and sinners and how they are really so sick. And Jesus says: exactly. They are sick, so they need healing. They need the doctor thats me. Here is another healing story but unlike in many other ones you cannot physically watch the healing taking place. We wouldnt even notice it if Jesus didnt make this comment about himself being like a doctor to these people. The healing thats going on is an inward one: the healing of a person, Mathew; the healing of a community. And this healing does not come to Mathew and his friends out of the thin air. This healing is a direct consequence of his encounter with Jesus. Jesus says: follow me. Mathew gets up, follows. That is where his healing begins, where he is restored to be a human being of dignity. And immediately this healing flows from him into his community, to his friends who so desperately need it. And now I am asking you again, what are you waiting for? Are you like that tax collector, sitting at his tax office day in and day out, waiting for something to happening in your life. Are you waiting to hear that voice follow me? Well, the good news is: in Holy Baptism God in Jesus has already called us. He has called you and he has called me: follow me. So what are we waiting for? What are you waiting for? Maybe there is something you know you need to do. What are you waiting for? Maybe follow me for you means to forgive someone what are you waiting for?
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 Maybe follow me for you means to get out of an abusive relationship what are you waiting for? Maybe follow me for you means to leave some unethical conduct behind you what are you waiting for? Maybe follow me for you means to be more diligent in prayer or more regular in church attendance what are you waiting for? Maybe follow me for you means you need to give up some worries and anxieties and put more trust in God, day by day. What are you waiting for? Whatever these words of Jesus mean to you: follow me, the important thing is to get up and do it. Jesus doesnt need long prayers, he doesnt need pious declarations of intentions. All he needs is people who get up and do it. Do whatever he calls them to do. So if there is one thing in your life that Jesus is calling you to do, if there is something and you realize, Ive been waiting and waiting, but now I am ready, I will do it: if that is the case, as you come up to the altar to bring your offering, I challenge you, dont just bring money. Bring yourself (mercy, not animal sacrifice). Bring that one decision that you have made today. You can say a short prayer, you dont need many words. You could pray: Jesus, I will do it. And if that is too much, you dont even have to say a word. As long as you do it like Mathew, get up and follow, you can just
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walk out of that church door and do whatever you need to do. There is no need to wait any longer, because what are you waiting for, anyway. And if you do that, let me assure you, you are stepping right into the healing presence of our Lord. The moment you admit that you are one of these people who are broken, who are sick, these people who need a doctor he is there for you! The doctor and physician of our souls who has come to do exactly that: to call and to heal those who need him. To call you and me. My prayer for all of us is that when we hear him call: follow me we will get up and follow. Amen. Sieh nicht was andere tun, der andern sind so viel. Du kommst nur in ein Spiel, das nimmermehr wird ruhn. Geh einfach Gottes Pfad, lass nichts sonst Fhrer sein, so gehst du recht und grad und gingst du ganz allein. Morgenstern Christian (1871 1914)

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