Poor
Zacchaeus! When he left home that day to get a look at Jesus on his way through
Jericho, I doubt that he had any inclination that Jesus would invite himself
over for dinner. Usually we need
to tidy up somewhat before we have guests over…. Pick up the newspapers and
magazines from the coffee table and bring them out to the trash, knock down a
cobweb here and there, (the kids science projects, really…), run the vacuum
around to pick up all those unidentified objects that follow us in from the
yard. Yes, I’m sure that we all do a little “staging” of our homes to make it
look a little more presentable for when our guests arrive. However, Zacchaeus didn’t have time to
run home and tidy up when Jesus told him invited himself over.
The
beauty and décor of a home comes not so much from how neat it looks or the expensive
furniture and accessories but rather from what takes place there. Being with
friends, old and new, recalling old memories or giving life to new ones gives a
home its character. So, I wonder what Zacchaeus experienced when Jesus entered
his home and shared dinner with him? I wonder what they discussed. Do you think that Jesus might have been
interested in hearing about how the community reacted to his position as Chief
Tax Collector in collaboration with the enemy, the Romans? In light of that,
might they have discussed how the community was living out the “Greatest
Commandment”, loving God and neighbor? There was so much to
talk about! There were so many feelings and emotions in need of healing. The
man who invited himself to dinner came to listen and to heal not just
Zacchaeus, but us too.
Jesus
came, as is written, “to seek and save
what was lost”. Life is harsh at times, too often it seems. It is in times
of bewilderment and uncertainty, when we lack vision and clarity and we seem
lost or confused that we become receptive to God and open to what he is saying
to us. He appears, it seems, out of nowhere then, in a visit from a friend, a
call from a loved one, kind words from a stranger or even a soft breeze and we
hear him say “Here I am; today I must stay with you”. Our hearts
are lifted up; and ever so slowly, gradually, ever so gently, he fills all our
needs, healing us, forgiving us, loving us simply because he comes to stay with us for a while.
Enjoy
the day,
Deacon
Tom
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credit: Year-C-Pentecost-Proper-26-Jesus-and Zacchaeu...davidewart.typepad.com
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