A feast for Jesus

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"Levi gave him a great feast in his house ; And there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were with them at table. "Luke 5:29

 
Matthew, aka Levi, sits at his tax collector's office. What a surprise for him to be heard by Jesus : "Follow me." Without hesitation, Matthew abandons his lucrative place to follow Jesus.
We have difficulty in perceiving today the sacrifice that this implied for Matthew. His post had been bought against a heavy sum which incited to "redo" as quickly as possible by increasing the taxes for his profit ; To abandon him, caused him to lose all favor on the part of the Roman occupier. The mediocre popularity of Jesus in the dominant Jewish classes was unlikely to help him to reintegrate into a society to which he had put himself through his "collabo" work. What was left for him ? At least the money raised up to that point. But now he starts to organize a "great feast" to which he invites "a great crowd" ! He really accumulates imprudence.
One imagines that Jesus will take him back, advising him to keep his money instead to help the poor or to support himself and his disciples. And then, is it really the place of someone who has just been called to follow the footsteps of the Son of God on earth, to celebrate ? Not to mention the guests : bad Jews, either compromised with the occupier (the publicans), or in violation of the law of Moses (sinners). This Matthew seems to us more than impudent ; He is not very witty.
But Jesus goes to the feast. He is no doubt doing honor to it, since the Pharisees reproach him for being "an eater and a drinker" (Luke 7:34) - even if it is necessary to make the part of calumny in their words. The lesson of the evangelists is not for the guests, but for those proud Pharisees, who are so proud of their asceticism (Luke 18:12).
Our Lord has not disdained the terrestrial joys of a feast. He was also not afraid to show himself publicly in the company of uncommon people, in the sense of social and religious norms. He makes himself "all for all" (1 Corinthians 9:22), eating and drinking freely, even though he often passes the needs of those around him before his own physical needs (Mark 3:20; 31). Above all, his food is to fulfill the will of his Father and to see hearts around him, thirsting for the good news, ready for the harvest (John 4:34, 35).
Feast for the body, feast for the heart, Matthieu was right !
 
Source (Please the Lord)