Wednesday 12 March 2025

Psalm 96

Background
In 2008 a British woman, Karen Matthews, was jailed for staging the kidnapping of her nine-year-old daughter Shannon. She was kept drugged and captive at the home of Matthews' accomplice Michael Donovan, in order to claim the £50,000 offered for her safe return.

Shannon’s disappearance was immediately met with a national outpouring of love and compassion for the family, followed quickly by universal condemnation when it transpired Karen had been the perpetrator.

After being released from prison, Karen became a Christian after getting involved with a Bible group. "When I left prison," she said "I picked up a Bible and saw a passage about ‘God loves you.’  I knew I was hated by everyone, but here they were, saying I was loved.  The people are kind and don’t judge.  My favourite passages in the Bible are Matthew’s."

I expect I was not alone in feeling just a twinge of incongruity when I read that story and could see myself in that group of Pharisees asking Jesus: "Why would you spend time with someone who put her daughter through such suffering for financial gain?"

But this is precisely what Jesus means when he says: "It’s not the healthy that need the doctor but the sick."

The ‘sick’ in Jesus’ day, the sinners, the hated tax collectors, the ‘outsiders’ recognise their need of God and when Jesus invites tax collector Matthew to ‘follow me’ (v. 9) he jumps at the chance.

The ‘healthy’ Pharisees, meanwhile, rather than revelling in Jesus' generosity, condemn him for showing mercy.

But Jesus’ words have a twist in their tail. There are plenty who think they are ‘healthy’ but Jesus knows that before God, we are all sick and in need of a doctor.

It’s a sobering story which makes us examine our own attitudes to those we consider less deserving of forgiveness. Rather than condemn us, Jesus urges: "Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.” (v. 13)

To Ponder:

• If you can recall the kidnapping story, how did you feel when you heard Karen Matthews had become a Christian?
• Who might the ‘sick’ be in your town or church community?
• Matthew responded to Jesus’ call very quickly. Is there something Jesus is calling you to do that might need an immediate answer?

Prayer
Loving God, help me to remember that we are all in need of your love and forgiveness and change my heart when it grows hard. Amen.

Bible notes author: Sue Moore
Sue Moore is a visiting Anglican preacher on the Methodist circuit in West Norfolk. She is candidating for the role of Distinctive Deacon and together with her husband runs a bereavement support group. They have two greyhounds who keep them fit with plenty of walking.