Wow, we’re halfway through Advent and it doesn’t quite feel like Christmas yet.  Yes, the Christmas lights are starting to fill my neighborhood.  Yes, the incessant playing of modern Christmas music, neither hymns, carols, or classics, but songs that are sugary sweet and about as nutritious, has filled the airwaves (does anyone actually like Wham! … and why do we have to hear their one Christmas song over and over again?).  And just how much are we supposed to spend on that Christmas gift for the person we’re not all that fond of?  What is this season about, anyway?

Oh, food, that’s right.  It’s about Candy canes, and oranges in our stockings (I especially like the milk chocolate ones!), and chestnuts roasting on an open fire (does anyone actually do that?).  And even if you don’t like those things, it certainly means the arrival of big meals and good food (Wait, wasn’t that Thanksgiving?  Yes, but we do love our big meals and good food).

So, all of that brings us to our Advent series on “Meals with Jesus.”  We feasted at a wedding in Cana of Galilee, then we invited ourselves to a meal with Zacchaeus, and this week we’re going to sit down and eat with Matthew and his friends right after Jesus’ calls him to “Follow Me.”

So, what does it mean to be called?  And what does it mean to follow?  And why is it important for us to answer these two questions?  And what do those things have to do with fasting and new wine?  Hopefully, we’ll tackle all those questions this Sunday as we go through Matthew 9:9-17.  Pray that I’m not as tired writing this sermon as I was writing this weekly thought!  Tired or not, I expect it will be interesting and I hope to see you there, Dr. Dave