He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."
(From Matthew 9:9-13)

Head to a church this weekend and see what a ragtag bunch of sinners and hypocrites and misfits we are that are in the pews.  Sure, there may be some righteous ones, and yes there is some goodness in all of us, but you’ll also see the people who are called by Jesus the Divine Physician because of our illness called sin.  I’m going to be at church for the same reason the sinners, tax collectors, traitors, prostitutes, the poor, and the hungry gather around Jesus—they want to be made well and they want to be near him who loves us no matter what!  Jesus will welcome you into the congregation even if you feel like others won’t!  Jesus will look at you with loving and doting eyes even if others might stare!  Jesus and all in Heaven will rejoice when you are found like the lost sheep or lost coin of the Gospel!  Jesus is waiting at the doorstep and looking for you like the Father of the Prodigal Son and is ready to embrace you and welcome you home!  Jesus calls us all not in spite of yesterday’s sins, but because of them!  He is calling you into his body, into his soul, into his heart, into his home, and into his Church today, my sisters and brothers in Christ!  Amen!