Unity - Isolation

Levi is a tax-collector and, if Jesus sees him this way, it would be an outrage for him to associate with Levi. He is other to the Jewish people an isolated from them.

Levi is an enemy of the people and a threat to their economic well-being and livelihoods. He is someone easy to blame for many social and economic ills, someone to scapegoat.

But Jesus doesn’t see a tax collector. Jesus sees a soul. And a soul, by its very definition, cannot be otherized. You and I are connected to every soul on earth and every soul that ever existed. To disrespect, to ignore or to be cruel to another soul is to do damage to our soul.

Unity.

This seeming other is so touched by the warmth of Jesus’ welcome, so moved by Jesus invitation to join him that he walks with him. He is so filled with happiness and connection that he throws a great party, inviting many who too were others, people who were isolated, disrespected and alone.

This tax-collector, this other, this person who was ignored and blamed and isolated, once welcomed and acknowledged as a soul, becomes Jesus’ disciple, Matthew.

Author: John Sabine, Advancement