Unexpected Behavior

Sermon for October 30, 2016

Proper 26C – RCL – Track 1

Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4
Psalm 119:137-144
2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12
Luke 19:1-10

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.

Increase My Faith

Sermon for October 2, 2016

Proper 22C – RCL Track 1

Lamentations 1:1-6
Psalm 137
2 Timothy 1:1-14
Luke 17:5-10

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" The Lord replied, "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, `Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

"Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, `Come here at once and take your place at the table'? Would you not rather say to him, `Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink'? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, `We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'"

The apostles said to the Lord “Increase our Faith!”  Once again I find myself identifying with the apostles.  Those human followers of Jesus who at times did not even know why they followed the itinerant Rabbi but kept following him.  They are amazed at the healings he does and how he interprets and breaks open scripture for them.  And they want more faith. 

It might help to put this into context.  This comes right after Jesus telling the disciples that if they see a friend going astray that they should correct them and forgive them.  And even if they do the wrong thing seven times in one day we should forgive them seven times in one day.

So after being told to forgive someone even if they are totally clueless – not once, not twice, but seven times – for perhaps the same offense – well no wonder they needed more faith.  I bet you would too.  How many times have we muttered something about needing faith to get through something.  Right now with the crazy election season that is offering tweeting rampages at 3 o’clock in the morning and questions about wealth and taxes and personal attacks I am sure we have all asked for more faith.  Or we have tuned out completely – if that is even possible these days. 

And it is just so much our plea in our world to want more.  More money, more food, more security, more, more, more.  So of course we too are probably asking God to supersize our faith.  Please God.  More faith.  I don’t think I can handle this world without more faith.  With the senseless killings, violence, and environmental destruction all around I just need faith that there really is a God.  Faith that God’s dream is one of love and respect for all of God’s creation – because right now its pretty hard to believe.

And Jesus response to the plea for more faith is not useful.  I am not sure if he is telling the disciples that they have little or no faith or that they should be satisfied with the faith that they do have.  And then we have all of the talk about servants/slaves doing their job without expecting any thanks. 

What are we to make of this! 

The problem that Jesus seems to be getting at is that we really can’t measure faith like we measure the size of the soda at the local fast food place.  We can’t measure faith like we tally up our bank accounts.  Faith is  immeasurable.  Faith is about the big things – but perhaps more importantly faith is about the small things.  Faith the size of a mustard seed is big enough.  Big enough to do amazing things.  And what matters is not how big our faith is but what our faith is in.

If we put all of our faith in wealth we are not going to get very far.  In our gospel reading from a couple of weeks ago – when I last was here – we heard Jesus tell us to give away all of our wealth if we want to follow him!  If we put all of our faith in our politicians – well I don’t even need to go there!  We are in big trouble.  Because really this is not the kind of faith that the disciples are asking for and it is not the kind of faith that Jesus is talking about.

It is when we put our faith in God that things can be different.  It is when we work to bring God’s dream of a right-side up society where we respect the dignity of every human being – and I mean all of us – Episcopalians or not!

We Episcopalians promise that we will respect the dignity of every human being in our baptismal promises – and I bet there are days that we have to ask forgiveness at least seven times for not following that promise.  For degrading the other.  For slandering the other side of the political aisle.  For walking past a homeless person and not even seeing them.  Let alone acknowledge that they are beloved children of God.

We all want to see great feats of faith.  We look towards the saints to see examples of great works of faith.  We look to people like Mother Theresa – recently canonized by the Pope – as people of great faith.  But Jesus tells us that we don’t need great faith.  We can do amazing things with a very tiny bit of faith.  It is the small acts of faith that change the world.  It is the small acts of loving each and every person and taking care of this fragile earth that helps turn our world rightside up.

Another preacher I follow, David Lose, said, “Faith is found not in the mighty acts of heaven but in the ordinary and everyday acts of doing what needs to be done, responding to the needs around us, and caring for the people who come our way.”

When we open the door for someone who is struggling to open a door we are doing it with faith.  Faith that acts of kindness and justice will turn society right side up and help bring God’s dream to fruition.

Just yesterday I witnessed a homeless person standing in front of 7-Eleven asking for change.  While I was crossing the street I saw him rush over to hold open the door for a person in a wheelchair.  He didn’t do it to earn some change – in fact I noticed he didn’t even ask that person for change.  He did it because it was the right thing to do.  This person with very little saw an opportunity to help and he leapt to it.  No reward expected – or necessarily received at that moment.  But perhaps in that moment a small piece of society was turned right-side-up.   God smiled and another mulberry tree was uprooted because of the kindness of a stranger.

How many small things do each of you do every day to help someone?  How many times have you seen – or perhaps been the person – to listen to someone who needs to talk.  How many times has a sack lunch been given out?  How many meals are served on Wednesday’s and Fridays in this small parish?  How many times have you listened to the struggles of a coworker or family member?  Not with an ear to “fix” the problem but with the ear to let them speak. 

All of these little acts of faith add up.  Every time we act with a belief that God is calling us to change our world we are acting in faith.  Every time we say hello to the stranger and welcome the other into our midst we are acting in faith.  David Lose said,  “None of these is any big deal, and yet it is just these kinds of acts that occupy so much of our lives. And I suspect it wouldn’t cross the minds of most of [us] … that they are acts of faith.”

And it is in these acts of faith that God’s dream is realized.  If we stop acting by faith this world would be worse than it is!  We need little acts of faith to keep from sinking into the depths of despair.  There are examples of faith all around us.

Right now one of our diocesan deacons, Lewis Powell, has gone to Standing Rock Sioux Reservation where native people are trying to stop an oil pipeline from crossing the river and damaging their lands.  He is visiting a people who recognize the creator and sacredness in the water that flows through the land.  A water that is prominent in many native peoples creations stories just as water is important in our own creation story.  Deacon Lewis wrote “The camp held a pow-pow honoring the presence of water. Tribes from all over brought their flags as a way of showing solidarity with Standing Rock. There were even three women from the Sami Tribes of Norway/Sweden/Finland that brought sacred water to offer in ceremony."

There is a faith that environmental justice and environmental stewardship of our fragile earth is a sacred duty.  There is a faith that – while not covered very well by  our press – that the nation will come to the aid of a people who have been mistreated in our nation and stand beside them as they try to protect our fragile earth.

David Lose reminds us that “… when we read the headlines and see news of more shootings, more injustice, more war, it can seem like there is no hope. Yet all around us signs of hope – of God continuing to love and care for this world – abound, even and especially through the simple, ordinary, even mundane acts of faithfulness our people are already doing.” And Jesus promise is that your small seed of faith is enough.  It is enough to do amazing things.

I invite you this week to see the seeds of faith that you have.  Seeds that will allow you to help change the world.  Not in any single big “act” of flinging the proverbial mulberry tree into the sea.  But in all of the small acts that you do to bring about a world that is right-side-up.  In greeting the homeless with a smile – and perhaps a lunch.  In talking actions to preserve this fragile earth.  Where all of creation is cared for. And then to give thanks to the one loving God who we have faith in and who we work with, in faith, to bring about God's dream to our fragile earth.

Amen.