{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Tax Collectors and Sinners","description":"Tax Collectors and Sinners | Matthew 9:9\u201313 In this sermon, Rev. Lucy Baum reflects on one of the most surprising moments in Jesus\u2019 ministry: the calling of Matthew the tax collector. When Jesus invites Matthew to become one of his disciples and then shares a meal with tax collectors and sinners, those around him are scandalized. Why would a teacher who speaks about the righteousness of God choose to spend time with people who seem so clearly in the wrong? As the story unfolds, we discover that Jesus is asking a deeper question than we might expect\u2014not simply who belongs, but what mercy really means. Drawing on Matthew 9, the prophet Hosea, and stories of forgiveness and restoration, this sermon explores the relationship between mercy and justice. It challenges us to consider why God's mercy can sometimes feel uncomfortable, especially when it is extended to people we believe do not deserve it. What if justice is about more than punishment? What if mercy and justice are not opposites, but partners? And what if healing damaged relationships is more powerful than settling a score? Through a powerful reflection on restorative justice, Rev. Baum invites us to imagine a way of life that holds mercy and accountability together\u2014a way that opens the door to transformation for everyone involved. \u201cI desire mercy, not sacrifice.\u201d It is a challenging invitation. And it is one that still has the power to change us today. ","author_name":"Faith Unfiltered","author_url":"http:\/\/firstpres-charlotte.org","html":"