Whenever we put on the garb of the socially acceptable in order to avoid their rejection, we fail to live in accord with the truth that Jesus lived by. That makes us guilty also. It is the Tax Collector's admission of guilt and humble request for mercy that redeems him. Jesus asked a lot of His disciples. During His ministry, everyone was pressed to examine the way they lived their lives and to change, if loving obedience to God and love of neighbor were not first.
Love is a passionate word that conjures up many images.
The love which Jesus exemplified emerges from empathy and compassion. It develops our of the ability to feel with another. It has been easy for this nation to feel Matthew's vulnerability and to cringe at the cruelty and violence that he endured. It is easy to decry injustice and to call for an end to hate crimes. It is easy to feel for his family and his friends, to share their grief and their loss.