Section 2 Part 6: Jesus eats with sinners (Mk 2:13-17)

Welcome to my Gospel of Mark Series. During 2012-13, each week, I will write a post about the Gospel of Mark as I review and explore each of the 16 chapters and how it may be applied in our daily lives. My goal is to understand and pray the Gospel of Mark.  I hope you will join me on this journey as we travel through the liturgical season of Year B.  In today's post, we explore chapter 2:13-17 which is Jesus eats with sinners.

The second conflict story has two aspects. First, there is the story of Levi, reduced to its bare outline, probably by retelling among early Christians over a number of years.  In its unexpectedness it is similar to the earlier call of the first four disciples (1:16-20).

When Mark later lists the Twelve, he does not include Levi, (3:16-19), so perhaps when he wrote his Gospel in the 60's there was some confusion in the tradition about Jesus on the position of Levi as a disciple.  The Gospel of Matthew seems to identify Levi with Matthew himself ( Mt 9:9).

In the second part of the story, Jesus shares a meal with tax collectors, probably friends of Levi, who were considered social outcasts by most Jews, and with sinners, probably ordinary people who did not observe the law with the same strictness as the scribes did.  Mark seems to say that the meal takes place in the house of Jesus himself at Capernaum.  He also says there are already many disciples of Jesus-not many tax collectors and sinners.

This is the second time we see Jesus sharing a meal with his disciples ( 1:31). Disciple is an important and frequently used word in Mark's Gospel.  The Old Testament prophets like Elijah did not have disciples, but servants (I Kings 19:21).  Notably Rabbis  at the time of Jesus had disciples, but the disciples of Jesus are especially characterised by their being with Him always and sharing with Him all he does.

Many scribes were also Pharisees who are mentioned here by Mark for the first time.  Thy see Jesus eating with tax collectors and other people not particularly religious.  Again they are shocked and question His disciples.  To accept Jesus as the one who heals with new life and forgives with God's forgiveness ordinary, struggling people is too much for these religious authorities to accept.

In our journal and/or our discussion group we may wish to reflect on this passage as follows:

• Name the key points that you have learnt about the person of Jesus in this passage of scripture?
• Reflect on the keywords in this passage for they contain the substance and purpose of all the things Jesus said and did-
• Consider who might be the scribes in  our society and in what way Jesus can come to them in our times.
• Share with Jesus the times we have shown scribe like behaviour to other people.
• Consider if we were outcasts like the tax collectors,  how we would feel if Jesus had a meal with us.
• Consider what changes we will make to treat others as we would like be treated ourselves.
• Reflect on a time in our lives where we have felt judged from our church, work, family or parish.
• What is my attitude to the gift of Reconciliation?
• Imagine you are the tax collector, sinner and scribe. Make a list of areas in my life that need a change of heart and develop an action plan on how this change of heart might occur. (eg name an area and name one/two changes that you will implement with God's help.
• What impact does Jesus eating with sinners (2:13-17).
• How has this passage spoken to you- what does it say to you personally?

It is important to remember that St Mark wishes us to know the person of Jesus.

What does this passage of scripture tell you about the person of Jesus?