2026-02-20 Lent - Day 3 Lent - First Friday of Lent Good morning! Today’s reading is taken from Matthew, chapter 9. This is one of the deepest scriptures in the New Testament in my opinion. Let’s take a look at it. 10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” This is a great scripture for a multitude of reasons! This is Jesus having dinner with a bunch of sinners, or as I would call them, “nary do-gooders”. 🤣 When I give thanks before a meal it sometimes crosses my mind to say; “THANK YOU JESUS for having dinner with a sinner”. I like to think she smiles at that. I love the fact that Jesus is meeting people where they are and doesn’t require them to go and meet Him. That’s how Jesus works, even today. If you invite Him, He will come. And of course the religious leaders can’t understand why He would do such a thing. We need to think about this for a minute. Jesus calls Himself a healer. He is “The Great Physician”, but it’s important to understand it correctly. Yes, Jesus still heals the sick, but His main mission is to heal the spirit and soul. Our body is only temporary, but our spirit is eternal. That’s what is truly important. Many of us are broken inside. We have experiences that are hurtful or perhaps we have done harm to someone else. Whatever the case, repentance leads to forgiveness. And for us to fully receive a blessing from Christ, we must forgive all of those that have hurt us. Not for them, but for us. Having a heart for Jesus helps with that process. Forgiving others brings peace to the soul. Pray from your heart, repent, forgive others, and be healed. It’s as simple as that. 😊🙏🏻 Blessings,