No Second Thought about it

As Jesus went on his way, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at his desk in the tax office and he said to him, “Follow me!” Levi got up and followed him. Later, when Jesus was sitting at dinner in Levi’s house, a large number of tax-collectors and disreputable folk came in and joined him and his disciples. For there were many such people among his followers. When the scribes and Pharisees saw him eating in the company of tax-collectors and outsiders, they remarked to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax-collectors and sinners?” (Mark 2:14-16)

It occurs to me that it never occurred to Jesus not to eat with the tax-collectors and sinners and disreputable folk. He didn't ever even seem to have a second thought about it. Nor was this some "ministry strategy." His actions were ever and always the most natural inclinations of His heart and will: this is the actual heart of God on display. And thank you, Jesus, for that Kingdom of Heaven reality!

The Calling of St. Matthew, Caravaggio