Proper 26 / Pentecost 24 / Ordinary Time 31
Devotional
Water From the Rock
Lectionary Devotional for Cycle C
Object:
Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.
-- Luke 19:5b
Why was it so urgent that Jesus stay at Zacchaeus' house? Why does Jesus, and later the body of Christ, need to associate with those the whole community deems a sinner? Notice that Zacchaeus did not deny he had done what the community assumed. It was only as a result of his encounter with Jesus that he promised to make restitution.
The community of faith was operating from a theory of pollution. If the pure comes in contact with pollution, it is spoiled. Jesus was operating from a theory of holiness. If the holy infuses our lives, we can be purified. Zacchaeus offered to give half of his possessions to the poor and to repay four times as much to any he had defrauded. Did Zacchaeus welcome Jesus into a house of sin, or did Jesus welcome Zacchaeus into a transformed life?
If Zacchaeus' life had been directed by his possessions, it was now clear that his possessions had become servant of a higher calling. Jesus' response was, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham." Before Zacchaeus was identified as a tax collector, but now he was identified as a Jew. His true vocation had been restored; although there was no indication that he ceased to be a tax collector. It was not his vocation but his priority that was changed.
The challenge for the body of Christ is whether the members are willing to risk being soiled so that their more worldly companions might be purified. Can we, like Jesus, risk our reputation and welcome the sinner even before we know the response to our invitation? Jesus did not say, "Come down and follow me." He said, "Come down for I must stay with you."
-- Luke 19:5b
Why was it so urgent that Jesus stay at Zacchaeus' house? Why does Jesus, and later the body of Christ, need to associate with those the whole community deems a sinner? Notice that Zacchaeus did not deny he had done what the community assumed. It was only as a result of his encounter with Jesus that he promised to make restitution.
The community of faith was operating from a theory of pollution. If the pure comes in contact with pollution, it is spoiled. Jesus was operating from a theory of holiness. If the holy infuses our lives, we can be purified. Zacchaeus offered to give half of his possessions to the poor and to repay four times as much to any he had defrauded. Did Zacchaeus welcome Jesus into a house of sin, or did Jesus welcome Zacchaeus into a transformed life?
If Zacchaeus' life had been directed by his possessions, it was now clear that his possessions had become servant of a higher calling. Jesus' response was, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham." Before Zacchaeus was identified as a tax collector, but now he was identified as a Jew. His true vocation had been restored; although there was no indication that he ceased to be a tax collector. It was not his vocation but his priority that was changed.
The challenge for the body of Christ is whether the members are willing to risk being soiled so that their more worldly companions might be purified. Can we, like Jesus, risk our reputation and welcome the sinner even before we know the response to our invitation? Jesus did not say, "Come down and follow me." He said, "Come down for I must stay with you."
