Daily Reflection
February 21, 2026

Today, I saw a poster with the words: “We are just sinners judging other sinners for sinning differently.” It made me pause for a moment. I would like to think of myself as a compassionate person with a big heart. However, I must admit that in a world often filled with people who profit from conflict and divisive policies, my compassion tends to be directed to those I find comfortable to love—those who share my interests, values, or perspectives. Honestly, loving people who are unkind or cruel feels exhausting, and over the years, I have come to believe it is normal to show love only outside my familiar circles when it demands little effort. However, this is not how Jesus loves, nor is it how God loves.

Jesus did not reserve His love for the likable or the “deserving.” Where others saw fishermen, He saw leaders. Where others saw sinners, He saw sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and new friends. Where others saw a tax collector, Jesus saw Levi, the person. Jesus did not ignore or condemn Levi; He called him. Defying the cultural norms of His time, Jesus did not hesitate to share a meal with Levi’s friends—people labeled as sinners, outsiders, and the unwanted. The religious leaders were outraged, and the self-righteous were scandalized. Yet, Jesus reminded them—and reminds us—that His purpose is to meet us in our brokenness: “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Mercy is placed above judgment, just as God proclaimed through Isaiah. So, who are the Levis in our lives? Where does suspicion or self-righteousness still keep us from extending God’s love?

Despite our best intentions as children of God, many of us have an unconscious tendency towards selective compassion. Often, we divide the world into categories: “us” and “them,” “righteous” and “sinner,” “deserving” and “undeserving.” We might not name these divisions out loud, but our actions often speak for us —through whom we help, whom we welcome, or whom we avoid. It is comforting to believe that the table of God’s love is wide, and that all we need to do is come hungry, recognizing that it is not just the “other” who needs this radical inclusivity—we need it too.

By dining with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus redefined the boundaries of belonging. He sought out the excluded, the despised, and the forgotten. His compassion shattered social and cultural barriers, making space for everyone in His circle. Jesus acted not out of convenience, but with unwavering commitment to loving all people equally. Jesus believed in people’s potential to become more than they were, and more than people say they are. To love as God loves means extending grace to those who have hurt us, choosing kindness when we are tempted to judge, and making room for those who challenge our worldview. Today, Jesus reminds us of the radical inclusivity of God’s love and demonstrates the power of restorative action, which begins when we stop trying to earn righteousness and instead participate in God’s mission to restore human hearts and broken systems in our world. This path is uncomfortable, often disruptive, yet profoundly liberating for all.

Are we willing to sit at the table with those we deem unworthy of our time, love, or friendship? Are we prepared to set aside self-preservation to lift the “yoke” of oppression, paving the way for reconciliation and communal flourishing? Are we open to stretching our hearts, inviting people into a radical relationship of grace and belonging? Just as Levi left his tax booth to follow Jesus, so must we leave behind our excuses, comforts, and fears. In today’s polarized culture, this challenge is perhaps greater—and more necessary—than ever.

Loving God, never stop reminding us that we are lovable and called to a greater purpose.