"Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." (Luke 15;:1-2)

    Friends.  That's what I see in this Scripture reading, and in Matthew 9, where one of these tax collectors is called to follow Jesus, and immediately he hosted a dinner with other tax collectors and sinners. And no doubt most of these people are friends!
    Now please take notice who is in the midst of them?  Jesus.  In Luke 15, Jesus is the host ("welcoming...")  So He is fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 25:6, "The Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food..."
    And so as we look at our Lenten theme, "Gathering Around Jesus", here we see notorious sinners and people hated by others, all gathering around Jesus!   And I am one of them gathered around Jesus.  And so are all other people, for "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23)
    It looks like a party!  With great food and drink, and lots of conversation and laughter.  And I'm thinking Jesus was in the midst of all of that also.  I'd love to hear one of His jokes, and His laughter :).
    Wait a minute:  this sounds like the gatherings around Jesus at worship services that occurs every Sunday and the Wednesdays of Lent, and the soup suppers, and the fellowship gatherings after so many of our services, and the dinners we share with others, all here at Resurrection Lutheran Church!!

Blessings to you,
​Pastor Steve