By the lake... in a house... sitting at a table... in the Synagogue, or up the mountain.

Jesus moved here and there in the early days of his public ministry, making himself available to people. This week, as Luke unfolds the story, the spotlight falls on Levi, or Matthew. The word the evangelist uses (Luke 5: 27) is powerful, "He saw a tax collector". It has the meaning of a searchlight, picking out this particular individual. There were several tax collectors in that office for it was the place where the area's chief tax collector collected all kinds of dues. He then hired others, such as Matthew to do the collecting and organised the profits himself. Jesus entered that office in Capernaum and headed for Matthew.

Under Jesus's searchlight we see three things about Matthew; three headings with the letter 'S' will help us. Firstly, he was successful. He had a good job. It was lucrative and secure. He had a very pleasant and comfortable house/home - otherwise he could not have thrown such a big party afterwards. But he was hated, envied, avoided, rejected and despised. To many he was a traitor and a crook. However successful and affluent Matthew was, he was treated like the dregs of society. Secondly, he was sick. Verse 31 says this, 'Healthy people don't need a doctor - sick people do'. Certainly Jesus is affirming that he has come for people like Matthew. He is also saying something important about those whose chosen lifestyle attracts rejection and repulsion. They are sick. Whatever else is true of them, they need help and healing. Matthew was sick; he needed the personal and specialised care of a doctor. He was sick through greed, fear and self indulgence. He was sick through people's rejection of him. Thirdly, he was a sinner. Verse 32 sums it all up: "I have come to call sinners to turn from their sins, not to spend my time with those who think they are already good enough." How Jesus, the great physician, tackles sickness in people like Matthew - in us all - is rather different than we might expect. For Jesus to make that invitation - 'Follow Me' to Matthew in that tax office was both diagnosis and remedy.

This week's thought: The nail that sticks up gets hammered.