4th June Trinity 2021, Healing to This House

 

June Trinity, additional
Luke 19:1-10
 

And he came to Jericho and went through the town. See, there was a man called Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax-collector, and a rich man. He wanted to see Jesus to know who he was; but because he was small of stature, he could not see him in the great crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a mulberry-fig tree to see him, for he had to come past there. 

And when Jesus came to the place he looked up to him and said, `Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must be a guest in your house!' 

And he came down hurriedly and made him welcome in his house with great joy. All who saw it became indignant and said, 'He has gone in to be a guest in the house of a sinner.' 

Then Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, 'Lord, see, half of all that I have I give to the poor, and if I have taken too much from someone, I give it back to him fourfold.' And Jesus said to him, 'So today healing has come to this house. This man, too, is a true son of Abraham, and the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.'

4^th Trinity II
June 20, 2021
Luke 19:1-10

This lovely episode in the Gospels is encouraging on so many levels: The 'little guy' gets noticed. His efforts at running ahead and raising himself are rewarded. Not only does Jesus notice him but says that He will visit his house and dine with him.


Meanwhile, Zacchaeus had also prepared himself inwardly for an encounter with Christ. Half his riches he shares with the poor—a sign of his awareness that he is embedded in a community from which his wealth is earned; and a community for which he is in turn responsible. He makes recompense for his wealth. He also acknowledges any mistakes or errors toward individuals and makes fourfold restitution.

Zacchaeus has schooled himself in creating right relationships to the divine and to his fellow humans. His open-hearted generosity and willingness to make restitution have brought healing. They are the openings through which Christ is able to commune intimately with him.

Openheartedness is the first step toward an encounter with Christ—Christ on the Way, Christ in us, Christ in others. He is always ready. He says: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me" (Rev 3:20).

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