Presented August 16, 2020 by Rev. Jesse Larson
Based on Luke 19:1-10
Last week, I mentioned a superb Nova episode on PBS entitled “The Rise of the Mammals.” It was so good, I’m getting two sermons out of it! The program dealt with how mammals were able to rise out of the ashes of the meteoric event that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs. The earliest fossils from this time period indicate that tiny mammals had front teeth that were used for biting and tearing, while their back teeth were rounded, meaning that they were used for grinding. Their teeth resemble our own; scientists argue that these little creatures became opportunists—they ate meat, vegetation, just about anything. Those creatures that had much more specific diets died off because climate change had killed off so many plant and animal species. Only those creatures who were able to adapt and take advantage of every opportunity for sustenance could survive.
One can argue that tax collector Zacchaeus was an opportunist who adapted to his surroundings. You remember his story, don’t you? “Zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he. He climbed up in the sycamore tree to find out what he could see.” Zacchaeus clearly had some advantages over many of his contemporaries—he had a good job and was rich. But today’s text also shares that he was a short in stature, and, as a general rule, tax collectors were reviled as they were cheats who also did the bidding of the Roman occupiers. So, like all humans, he also had his disadvantages. The story is so memorable because Zacchaeus decided to climb a tree so he could see Jesus amid all the crowds who surrounded him during his visit. Jesus sees him in the tree and shouts to him that he’ll be staying at his home. (Maybe when the pandemic is over, I’ll start coming by your homes and declaring to you that I’ll be joining you for dinner!)
Despite his questionable profession, we laud Zacchaeus’ drive. He was a go-getter; he wasn’t going to let anything stand in his way from seeing Jesus. Zacchaeus was an opportunist who creatively overcame the disadvantages of his height, and by doing so, his life changed radically.
Zacchaeus reminds us of the importance of an active faith. We shouldn’t just sit back and wait for things to happen; rather we are the change agents that the Holy Spirit works through to build the kingdom of God here on Earth. Each of us is dealt a hand to play—we all have our gifts and our shortcomings—so we shouldn’t spend our time making excuses. How will we make the most of what we have been given in this life? How will we solve the problems presented to our community by the Covid pandemic? How do we solve the problems that we are facing as a worshiping community?
When we reach out to God, especially in creative ways, God responds by presenting us with special opportunities. Stiff-arm those who want to shame or criticize you, and embrace those people and activities that fill your soul with joy. Think outside of the box, take risks, challenge yourself to grow and expand your horizons. Make today be the day of a new beginning! The Spirit will meet you in that place, to set you on a path bound for healing, wholeness, and enlightenment.
Zacchaeus’ bold leap of faith helped him to encounter Christ, and the payoff was huge. Initially, the crowd grumbled when Jesus chose Zacchaeus as his host for the evening. They considered him a sinner who was unworthy of this special honor. But Jesus quickly silenced the crowd, saying that “Zacchaeus, too, is a son of Abraham.” In other words, even a sinful, unethical man like Zacchaeus is a recipient of God’s promise and God’s grace.
Jesus reminds us that we are all children of God, and this is yet another story of an unworthy fellow who God refused to write off. Such an experience with grace is so overwhelming that our lives are forever changed. While still standing in the tree, Zacchaeus was so moved to even be acknowledged, that he immediately declared he would give half of his possessions to the poor and make amends for any of his fraudulent behavior.
Jesus reassures us that even on our worst days, we are all made good and in the image of God. So is our neighbor and even our enemy. We really need to let this message sink is, as we continually miss it. We spend far too much time judging who is righteous and worthy, when we could be finding new ways of blessing people with deeds of love and grace. Rather than dwelling on everything that could go wrong, Zacchaeus took it upon himself to change his reality. He must have been ready for a change, but perhaps he just couldn’t do it alone. Jesus witnessed Zacchaeus’ desire for something better in his life, and was moved by his faith. Zacchaeus reached out to Christ, and Jesus responded by wanting to have a relationship with Zacchaeus. Moreover, Jesus shattered the barriers of shame and sin by inviting himself to break bread with this sinner. Zacchaeus had been lost, but he sought out a map; Jesus took his hand and set him on the path of salvation.
In closing, I’m eagerly awaiting a visit from my cousin Tim this fall. He is taking a road trip across the country, and I hope to join him for part of his western leg. For some years now, every day he posts photos on Facebook of beautiful sunsets taken by professional photographers. He has decided that now is the time to take in some of these vistas in person. He has quit his job and is soon to make his way west from Cleveland.
We’ll need to hike some rough terrain to reach the landscapes we want to see. It will take time, energy, and money to get to such secluded destinations, but to see such panoramas with our own eyes will be unforgettable. Maybe even life-changing. Indeed, Tim has no idea what will be next after this epic road trip, but he is certain that he’ll be present to create new opportunities! I’d say that’s a pretty faithful attitude for an agnostic!
May we be as willing in our own lives to seek to be adaptable, creative, and bold so that we may seize the many wonderful opportunities that God has prepared for us. Amen.
