Leveled

During lent I have decided to read the whole way throught the book of Mark, episode by episode. In today's episode we found Jesus calling the tax collector Levi to follow him. The social status of a tax collector was that of an adulterer, a thief someone you would not want to be associated with. Jesus, being the revolutionary that he was ate meals with Levi and people like him. Eating with someone is an expression of friendship.
Today collecting taxes is still not a pleasant job, but those who do so are not social outcasts, nor are their families shunned because of their job. Adulterers are no longer looked down upon the way they used to. This because of the "liberation of our culture." Doing what feels right etc... But there are new outcasts, alcoholics, bikers, those who sport various tattoos and piercings... I could go on.
Regardless of what is socially acceptable and unacceptable, Jesus leveled the playing field. He did not really differentiate the tax collector, prostitue, or body art lover. He had one classification for us all-sinner.
Sorry to be the downer in all of this, but Jesus really wanted us to know that though we are sinners, he is willing to spend time with us. Willing to recieve the dirty looks, gossip and verbal knives that go along with it.
I think that we should be willing to do all that too.