Visiting Minister
“Fill Our Homes with Belonging”
Luke 19: 1-10
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Pray…Loving God may the words of my mouth and meditations of all our hearts and minds be touched by your transforming and healing spirit. Amen.
Going out on limb
Climbing a sycamore tree…sitting on a branch
That’s what Zacchaeus did on the day Jesus was to pass through town.
Jesus had been traveling through towns on his way to Jerusalem.
-drawing crowds to hear his teaching of compassion and show his acceptance of those on the “outside…” of God’s love.
-Jesus was drawing crowds to experience his presence …an earthy human being…who was also extraordinary in living the love of God in a concrete way, Emanuel God with us…a teacher to learn from…
Zacchaeus wants to see Jesus…through the crowds…
– so who is this guy Zacchaeus?
-we know he is short
-He is a tax collector…the chief tax collector
-And he is rich
-in this time the Romans did not collect their own taxes
-they hired people to collect the taxes for them
-not the regulations we have today…no T4’s
-the tax collectors would collect taxes for the government and whatever they wanted for themselves
-the gospel writer of Luke tell us he is a very rich tax collector so we know where he got all his money
– Because of this he was a disliked even hated person
– yet at the same time, because of his position he was of a certain community standing
-for him to run a head and climb a sycamore tree would be seen as a humiliating act
-like Prime Minister Justin Trudeau…running ahead to climb a tree to see over the crowds
Zacchaeus put himself out there for all to see
-he is vulnerable, no hiding, humble
-I wonder what Zacchaeus was thinking as he climbed the tree…was he thinking I hope Mr and Mrs Smith don’t see me….I just collected taxes from them last week…. Now they see me up this sycamore tree…what will they think?
-when you go out on a limb…exposed…there is a risk
Have you ever gone out a limb… climbed a sycamore tree …?
-seeking something…seeking a renewed peace…after a disruption in your life.
-seeking a new purpose or community after a loss or time of transition…?
Have you ever gone out on a limb…
-come to church…a Sunday morning worship service for the first time…when you don’t know anyone…and not sure what to expect…who will see you…?
Have you ever gone out on a limb…
-walked into your first AA meeting or maybe a support group …tired out from your life…not knowing what comes next
Have you ever gone out on a limb…
-applying for a new job…volunteer position…or university…not sure if you could do it…knowing it would stretch you…you would need to grow and learn
Have you ever gone out on a limb…?
-moved into a new place…Cedar Springs not knowing if it’s right for you
How have you gone out on a limb… invite answers…
When have you gone out on limb…
-seeking, searching, looking for something, just a little – or maybe a lot, beyond yourself?
Catalyst for change…that’s what this story is about…
-Jesus was there…Zacchaeus wanted to see him…not a peek from the sideline…but climbed a sycamore tree…went out on limb…went all the way…
…Remember Zacchaeus is an “outsider”…outside God’s love…outside of friendly greeting at the grocery store …outside the neighbourhood dinner invitations…
Jesus spots Zacchaeus up the tree and calls out:
-Zacchaeus, “come down, I must stay at your house today”
(-remember what the crowd did, they grumbled
-they complained that Jesus has gone to be the guest of a sinner Zacchaeus)
-from this encounter Zacchaeus changes…
-I will give half my possession to the poor
-I will pay back 4 times anyone I have defrauded
Happen quickly and easily…not sure change happens this fast…maybe it does…
There is a theological debate
-How do we experience the transformation of God’s love in such a way that we become more generous, more trusting…as we see Zacchaeus do?
-How do we live as people of faith in the Kin dom of God?
-on one hand, God’s agency…God, Spirit through Jesus makes things happen…calling out to out to us…I’m coming to your house
-on the other hand, of this theological debate, we the idea that people make things happen in our own lives…hard work…the family you are born into…luck
What is it…God/divine?….or our own hard work and luck… That helps us live as people of God…trusting and generous…to be people of healing and light in the world?
For me… this story says both are true…we need both
-God’s presence, spirit among us…meets us… I think, when we climb the sycamore tree…when we go out on a limb.
-When we go to the support group
-When we reach out for help to a friend or counsellor or minister…when we take a chance and apply for the job or university that is just a bit beyond us
-when we say yes, to being on Church council or property team ___________
-when we realize our home is too much and decide to downsize
-when we are looking for peace, healing, forgiveness, purpose at any stage of life
-when we join Zacchaeus on the branch of the sycamore tree and say…
-I want to know something beyond myself…I want to know the teaching of Jesus, the love of God…I want to know acceptance and love and purpose…in my life and my relationships…even when not all our relationships work out the way we hoped…
When we do these things we open the door to transformation, we open the door to a catalyst for change and growth and healing. We open the door to know God/Spirit/divine/Jesus in a new way.
-Zacchaeus is seeking, looking…puts himself out there…so to speak
-Jesus sees Zacchaeus on the branch of the sycamore tree
-Jesus spots him and is very direct with him… “I must stay at your house today”
-Zacchaeus, could have jumped down and ran away
-he could have simply refused to engage with Jesus
-he could have shut down the possibility of growth and transformation…just as we all can, when we are nudged by the spirit of God…or we can say yes…to new possibilities beyond our current understanding…
I’ve noticed when people open themselves to new things
-new experiences, new people, new ideas
-catalyst for change, catalyst for new peace, new understanding, and new purpose becomes possible.
Invitation for you this week. Inspirited by the Café here at Mount Seymour. Gathering around the table eating…coffee…connection, community.
Invitation to go out on a limb this week. To invite someone (or accept an invitation) you don’t normally eat with or have coffee with, to meet with you. Café, Tim Hortons, restaurant, or invite someone or a few people to your home for tea or a lunch. Keep it simple…not fancy…make it doable.
“Doug’s winter party” – explain in church- google it at home
Let’s following the teachings of Jesus to eat together…everyone is welcome…no one is excluded. Around the table we build community, relationship and the kin-dom of God one cup of tea or coffee at a time.
-I want to hear about your plans and what happened…you have couple of weeks to do this. Go out on a limb…invite someone to join you…
As Mount Seymour United has changes ahead…café…possibly other staff changes…it time to be curious (and there may be loss too) …it’s time to climb the sycamore tree and get a wider vantage point. To see where Jesus may be calling. To not run away or shut down where the Spirit may lead…but be open…to look beyond your current understanding of what is and trust that God is leading what can be…God is here in every step and question. Remember it takes both people seeking and God listening and walking together… building and creating possibilities of growth, healing and community…the kin-dom of God.
There is no one outside this love…God’s love…
Jesus shows this as he welcomes the disliked Zacchaeus
We too are called to invite…to be open…to learn…at all stages of life
We pray we have eyes to see…courage to seek. To climb the sycamore tree… to go out on a limb and trust.
We pray for patience and wisdom to recognize the holy in our mist…so we can say yes…I’m here and ready. May it be so, Amen