Waiting for Jesus

This Sunday, Nov. 2, we look at a well-known account in the Gospel of Luke – the story of Zaccheus up in the tree, waiting to see Jesus. I remember singing a song in Sunday school oh so long ago about Zaccheus:

Zaccheus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he.

He climbed up in a sycamore tree, for the Lord he wanted to see. . .

If you want to hear that song, you’ll find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkd-QFD7vMA. It’s a cute song, and we might think this a cute story, but it’s really quite profound, hard to comprehend, even. For Zaccheus was a tax collector who had gotten rich working on behalf of the Roman empire by stealing from his own people. So, Jesus, reaching out to Zaccheus, inviting himself to Zaccheus’ home for dinner? It’s hard to find a modern-day equivalent. A spiritual leader inviting himself to the home of an ICE agent, perhaps.

So, there is much to think about here. Much to ponder. As part of our service, as well, the Stewardship team will offer a reflection on giving and the spirit of gratitude. Our service will be followed by a time of fellowship and getting to know one another better, these gatherings offered on the first Sunday of every month that many are coming to anticipate and enjoy. I imagine there might be some leftover Halloween candy on offer…

In the meantime, read Luke 19:1-10 and ponder the following:

1.       “For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.” Looking around you, who is lost?

2.       Would you climb a tree to see Jesus?

Image: “Christ Speaks to Zacchaeus,” William Hole, 1908, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library