Sermon for October 30, 2016
Proper 26C – RCL – Track 1
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through
it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich.
He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not,
because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to
see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place,
he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must
stay at your house today." So he hurried down and was happy to welcome
him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, "He has gone to be the
guest of one who is a sinner." Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord,
"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."
Then Jesus said to him, "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."
What are we to
make of this story of the Chief Tax collector Zacchaeus? Is this a story about repentance? Or is it a story about sight? Once again we really want this to be a story
about repentance and forgiveness – in that order and always in that order. But what if – just what if – the translation
that we have is wrong? What if instead
of Zacchaeus repenting and saying that because Jesus is going to stay in his
house that he somehow has seen the error in his tax collecting ways and wants
to change – and then because of that change there is the pronouncement from
Jesus that salvation has come to his house.
Perhaps Zacchaeus
was not responding to Jesus when he declares about all of his charitable giving
and that he pays back anyone that has been defrauded – with a four-fold
increase. Maybe Zacchaeus is responding
to the people – who are seeing what they want to see. The people who are grumbling are seeing a
traitor in their midst. The people are
quick to judge him on his profession.
The narrative of
these people goes something like this.
This man is a tax collector. All
Tax collectors work for the occupation force – the Romans. All Tax collectors exhort extra money from
the people to line their own pockets – and that is why they are rich. And that makes them un-repentant sinners. And if this Zacchaeus is the chief tax
collector – well then he is even worse.
And Jesus is inviting himself into this sinner’s house.
And I am sure the
grumbling people are seeing and judging Jesus as well. If this itinerate Rabbi is how some say he is
why doesn’t he see who this man is? Why
doesn’t he demand repentance before he invites himself in? Why doesn’t Jesus see the sins that everyone
else sees?
Perhaps it is
because Jesus sees what everyone else refuses to see. That this tax collector doesn’t fit the mold
of the typical tax collector. This tax
collector went out of his way to see Jesus.
And Jesus sees him for who he really is.
A son of Abraham. Jesus sees into his heart and knows that Zacchaeus – while
wealthy is already doing much of what Jesus told the rich young ruler back in
Luke chapter 18 to do. He is already
giving away his possessions. Zacchaeus
is already seeing a corrupt system that defrauds the citizens and he is making
it right – by repaying any who are defrauded and not just repaying them but
giving them four times over.
Perhaps the
people do not know the degree to which Zacchaeus is giving to the poor. He is going way beyond the biblical tithe of
10 percent and giving away 50 percent.
Or perhaps the people that are grumbling really do know – but refuse to
acknowledge that this sinner is actually more righteous that they are!
I really think
that this is what is going on here. This
is the last story of Jesus' public ministry in Luke before he enters into
Jerusalem – an entry that sets into motion the events that lead ultimately to
his crucifixion. And as the last story
before Jesus’ encounter with the power structures we have a story of Jesus – once
again – setting aside societal expectations.
Setting aside the notion of who is in and who is out. Setting aside the rules about how someone who
is out – or seen as out by most people – gets redeemed. Showing that God’s love sees what we can’t
see – or perhaps we just refuse to see.
And I am afraid
that so often we still are like the crowd that is grumbling. We see people and are sure who is saved. Who God will see. We still decide who should be loved by
God. And yet Jesus in our gospels keeps
giving us story after story of seeing the people society refuses to see and
showing that they are loved.
I have been
surprised and amazed at the generosity of people who most of society would
think are just takers – as I heard some politician describe those who need
assistance to get by. There is a
gentleman that frequents the sack lunch program at St. Paul’s – and attends
almost every service. I’ll call him Fred
– not his real name. When I was in
seminary I spent three hours almost every evening after work studying at St.
Paul’s. And probably breaking all of the
rules I would always see Fred and invite him into the church to get warm – or
just to have a safe place to relax – while I worked upstairs in my office. Fred would usually eat a lunch and after
awhile go on his way.
Well one day
while I was writing end of term papers Fred walked upstairs and came into my
office – an unusual occurrence. I asked
him if he needed anything. And he said “No
man – I brought
you this I think you might need it." And he handed be a wrapped sandwich
and packets of condiments that he had bought for me at the 7-11 across the
street. He saw that I was working late
and that I must be hungry so he used his resources to feed me.
I have lots of
stories of people doing things to help other people that are “out of their
character” – at least if you judge them the way too many people judge
them. I have seen people who are
homeless put a $100 bill in the collection plate – or hand it to me for the
church – because they finally got a social security check. Or the young man who went out when he got a
little money and bought the food for coffee hour and was so proud to be able to
host it – instead of being the guest.
I am willing to
bet that you all here at St. Matthew’s could tell me similar stories. Stories where God’s love trumps societal
expectations. Indeed I see it all the
time here. I see how people treat each
other as beloved children of God instead of as outsiders. Last night... How we are willing to put
everything on the line to show God’s love to those who are not seen.
See the story of
Zacchaeus is in my mind not really about him climbing the tree because he was
short. It is about Zacchaeus’ desire to see Jesus – a desire so strong that he
was willing to perhaps make a fool of himself and climb a tree to be able to
see him – after all climbing trees is for children – not chief Tax collectors.
And the story is
about Jesus seeing what the crowd could not see. That Zacchaeus is a child of God. That he is worthy of love. Jesus sees and does not need proof of
Zacchaeus goodness. Jesus – once again
sees an opportunity to expand the kingdom of God. To expand it to someone the crowd was sure
was an unrepentant sinner.
And that is our
call as the body of Christ today. We are
to see the Zacchaeus’ in our midst and welcome them into the body of
Christ. We are called to truly see the
people around us. Not to see only the
group that the person belongs to but to see as Jesus sees. To remember that in Jesus that salvation is
offered freely to all. And that in Jesus
love will trump our judgement every-time.
Amen.
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