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Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to
Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So to them Jesus
addressed this parable. Luke 15:1–3
This is good news! Our Lord “welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
For that reason, there is room at His table for you!
Sometimes it’s hard to admit that we are sinners. Of course we know
in our minds that we are. But our pride can easily lead us to
justify our sin, downplay it and conclude that we are not that bad
after all. If you find yourself thinking this way, be careful.
Doing so will make you like the Pharisees and scribes in the
passage above. Clearly they did not see themselves as sinners,
which is why they condemned Jesus for welcoming sinners and eating
with them.
The passage above comes from the beginning of Chapter 15 of Luke's
Gospel and serves as an introduction to three subsequent parables.
First, our Lord tells the Parable of the Lost Sheep, then the
Parable of the Lost Coin, and then the Parable found in the rest of
today’s Gospel passage, the Parable of the Lost Son. In the first
parable, the shepherd who finds his lost sheep rejoices. In the
second parable, the woman who finds her lost coin rejoices. And in
the parable we read today, the father who finds his lost son
rejoices and throws a party to celebrate.
Return, again, to the passage above that introduces these three
parables: “Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to
listen to Jesus.” Once they drew near, Jesus spoke to them about
the joy of finding that which was lost. Perhaps as Jesus initially
spoke about the finding of the lost sheep and lost coin, this would
have resonated with these tax collectors and sinners to a certain
degree. But then our Lord tells them the long and detailed story
about this boy who disrespects his father, takes his inheritance,
squanders it on illicit living, and ends up with nothing. The story
expresses the confusion of this boy, his desperation, his guilt and
his shame. We learn of his interior thinking, reasoning, fears and
anxiety.
As you ponder this parable, try to understand the effect that it
would have had upon the tax collectors and sinners who all drew
near to our Lord. They were spiritually hungry, just as the
prodigal son was. They had a past full of regret, just as this boy.
They were unsatisfied in life and were looking for a way out, just
as this son of the loving father was. For these reasons, those tax
collectors and sinners who drew near Jesus would have been
mesmerized by all that Jesus taught them and filled with hope that
they, too, could share in the joy that was so generously bestowed
upon this wayward son.
Reflect, today, upon the touching image of these tax collectors and
sinners drawing near to Jesus. Though they may have had a certain
fear and caution, they would have also had hope. Try to understand
what they must have thought and felt as they heard this story of
the father’s abundant mercy. Think about how they would have
related as they discovered that there was hope for them, too. If
you struggle with being like the scribes and Pharisees, reject that
temptation. Instead, see yourself as one of those sinners who drew
near to our Lord and you will be the cause of joy in the Heart of
the Father in Heaven.
Most loving and compassionate Lord, tax collectors and sinners
were drawn to You. They found in You someone Who could free them
from the burdens they carried within. Please help me to see myself
as one of those humble souls in need of You and Your mercy. I
reject my pride that leads me to self-justification and pray for
humility so that I can come to You and gladden the Heart of the
Father in Heaven. Jesus, I trust in You.
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