Proper 26. October 30, 2022

Lucas 19:1-10

Rev. Neli Miranda

 

 As you may recall, last week’s parable was about a tax collector, and again, today’s gospel brings us a story about another tax collector, a sinner who found God’s favor. Remember, tax collectors, though wealthy, were among the most hated and despised social figures in Jesus’ time. Yet, Jesus broke with this practice of exclusion. He welcomed and socialized with all those despised and marginalized, and proclaimed them the Kingdom of God. Jesus’ practices of inclusion attracted the opposition of the religious leaders: And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them” (5,2). These religious leaders could not conceive that God’s grace is inclusive. Therefore, Jesus used the image of the despised, such as tax collectors, to teach that God’s grace is not exclusive to a religious group but open to all, particularly to those who live a broken life—the lost. Remember, in last week’s parable, it was the despised tax collector who found God’s favor, not the arrogant Pharisee.

Today, the Gospel tells us of a tax collector with particular characteristics. First, he was a wealthy, chief tax collector, whose wealth, no doubt, had been obtained by defrauding his own people. Luke also points out that this man, Zacchaeus, was short in stature. So, it is quite possible that Zacchaeus suffered contempt both for his short stature and for being a tax collector. Zacchaeus lived in Jericho and when he learned that Jesus was passing through his village, he sought with urgency to see Jesus. But Zacchaeus was unable to see Jesus—the crowd was too big and he was too short! Besides, who would want to help a short tax collector?

Have we ever helped someone like Zacchaeus to see Jesus?

Zacchaeus’ desire and longing to see Jesus was much bigger than the crowd that prevented him from seeing Jesus. So, he ran and climbed a sycamore tree that was on the way Jesus was going to pass. What moved Zacchaeus to seek Jesus?  Certainly, he must have been seeking the peace, joy, and love of God that all his riches had not brought him!

As Jesus continued on his way, he stopped by the sycamore tree, where “He looked up” at the despised, short Zacchaeus. He urged him to come down saying, "Zacchaeus… I must stay at your house today" (19,5). Was Zacchaeus one of Jesus’ little ones? Definitely, being a little one was not an unworthy thing for Jesus.

Luke tells us that while others, like the religious who despised sinners, grumbled against Jesus for being the guest of a sinner, Zacchaeus joyfully welcomed Jesus and showed Jesus proof of his repentance when he offered, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much”(19,8).

Do you remember the passage of the rich man who refused to share his wealth with the poor and then follow Jesus? (18:18).  He thought himself to be righteous (like the Pharisee in the temple) and gloated over his good practices, but Zacchaeus recognized and accepted his sin against God and his community; he was willing to share and return some of the riches he had obtained by defrauding others.  His encounter with Jesus would impact the community’s economy. Jewish religiosity had failed to change this tax collector but not his encounter with Jesus!!                                                                    I wonder, do sinners today meet with religious people who judge them? Or do they meet with Jesus?

Dear sisters and brothers, Jesus concludes by recognizing and accepting that this short, despised sinner is worthy of salvation and says, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost” (19,9-10). In Greek, the same word zeteo is used to describe Zacchaeus “seeking” Jesus as well as to describe Jesus “seeking” and saving the lost. This tells us that human desire to seek God is born in God’s heart whose will is to seek humans who live a broken and lost life.

Sisters and brothers, are you seeking Jesus today? Are you willing to come down from your “sycamore tree” and welcome Jesus in your home? How can we have an impact in our communities by giving fruits of repentance like Zacchaeus?

Today, Jesus continues seeking all the lost and broken, those despised by society and traditional religiosity.  May Jesus pass through our village today and find those who are lost. May we, Jesus’ disciples, have God’s heart that seeks the lost. Amen.