Levi sat where money changed hands,

counting another passing day.

Jesus stopped beside the custom table,

looked at him and called him away.

Levi rose.

The coins stayed.

The chair stood empty by the road.

Soon his house was filled with people

respectable men preferred to avoid.

Publicans.

Sinners.

Disciples.

Jesus sitting at the table.

Who needs a physician?

(The sick.)

Who hears the calling?

(The sinner.)

Who got up from the table?

(Levi.)

He came not to call the righteous,

but sinners to repentance.

Mercy sat down with the unwanted

and did not apologize for the guest list.

Then came questions about fasting:

"Why do theirs abstain and Yours do not?"

Jesus answered with a wedding.

While the Bridegroom is present,

this is not the hour for mourning.

But days would come

when He was taken.

Then fasting would find its place.

New cloth on an old worn garment,

pull it tight and watch it tear.

New wine in an old dry bottle,

something living needs room there.

Not the righteous.

Sinners.

Not the whole.

The sick.

One chair empty at the tax table.

One more man following Jesus.