The deplorable dinner

If he had been in Washington on the night of the inauguration, Jesus might well have gone to the DeploraBall. It's the kind of thing he did in his earthly ministry.

Hillary Clinton famously called some of Trump's supporters 'a basket of deplorables' and then some of the deplorables hit back by organising their very own DeploraBall in DC on the day of the presidential inauguration.

Of course, I don't really know what Jesus would have done, but I do know he made a habit of meeting with 'deplorables' and he himself was roundly deplored by just about everyone for doing so.

I like Caravaggio's painting (left) of the calling of St Matthew.

I showed it to the children at assembly in St James's School recently.

It depicts the events of Mark 2.13-17 where Jesus, having called a notorious deplorable (Levi the tax collector) to follow him, is seen eating with a whole bunch of 'tax collectors and other outcasts.'

It was the ultimate DeploraBall and liberal public opinion was predictably scandalised.

As for Jesus, he was unrepentant (if you can use that word of him). 'People who are well do not need a doctor, but only those who are sick' he said. 'I have not come to call respectable people but outcasts.'

Personally, I don't think anyone should be called a 'deplorable' but if there are going to be any deplorables around, let's be clear about one thing: Jesus would make a bee line for them.