Who Has Ears?

Bible Readings... Luke 14, Luke 15:1
Highlighted Verse... Luke 14:35, Luke 15:1 - Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand! Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach.
Thoughts... Jesus has just finished some of his hard words...

Luke 14:26-27 “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.

He followed it up with a couple parable examples then says He who has ears to hear, let him hear. The next thing we read is that tax collectors and sinners were listening while the Pharisees and teachers of the law were grumbling.
How it impressed me... Jesus consistently sought out the sinners while ignoring or insulting the religious elite... yet the church of today often looks with disdain upon the sinner and welcomes the elite. I wonder about how the specific tax collectors and sinners that listened to him came to hear him. Did they just happen to be nearby when he was speaking? Or were they searching for something that transcended their current lives? Or did Jesus seek them out and invite them in like he invited Matthew? Since the answer may impact how we treat the sinners it is worth looking into. Somehow taking the approach of waiting for them to enter the doors of our church by luck or on their own volition doesn't seem to meet the spirit of Jesus' example, so we're left with seeking them where they live and inviting them in.
My response to God... Merciful God, I know that you desire that none should perish... help me to spread your love to all who need it regardless of their condition or position. Embolden me to share the Word and invite others into your house.