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Jesus was passing through Jericho. 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   Luke 19: 1-2

Zaccheus -- Cover Art for the groups Day Four

A CHIEF Tax Collector!  Big, powerful, rich, but short in statre. Oh, how I love this story!  The crowds knew Jesus by this time. He was famous; a traveling celebrity. And even those who were not particularly religious, even those whose temple membership dues had probably lapsed wanted to get a glimpse of the traveling Galilean, Jesus.

Zacchaeus has become the darling of Sunday School lessons because the he was short. So short, he had to climb up in a tree so he could get a decent look at Jesus. It’s almost comical, and yet youngsters are captivated by Zacchaeus because they can relate to being short and they can relate to climbing trees.

What we don’t remember from Sunday School, however, is that Zacchaeus was very rich and he was a tax collector and it is those details to which we must attend.  A rich tax collector: despised by the locals, shunned by the religious authorities, and envied by all. And this is the man Jesus stops and talks to. This is the man Jesus chooses to eat dinner with. Scandalous! Can you imagine the rolling eyes? The murmuring? The belligerent sniffles?

That’s how it is with Jesus.  Jesus doesn’t just pay attention to those who are sitting right in front of him, clamoring to walk right next to him. Jesus looks around – up into trees even – to spot the ones who might not deserve an audience with him. 

The Jesus Prayer

God, be merciful to me, a sinner.  Luke 18: 13

                     "Mercy"             Jackson Jim-George

There is a prayer going around retreat and spirituality circles over the past decade or so. It’s called “The Jesus Prayer” and it goes like this: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy upon me, a sinner.” You may have used it on a retreat, or when trying your hand at the Anglican Rosary, or whenever you’ve needed a quick centering prayer, but the genesis of this prayer come from Luke’s Gospel. And in its original form, it did not address Jesus at all; it addressed Yahweh. It is the simple prayer of a Jewish tax collector who has become aware of how far he has strayed from his Creator. His prayer is simply this: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”

It is in that closeness, when we sense the presence of the Divine, that we realize our own brokenness and our need for God’s mercy. It is in facing Love Itself that we realize how deeply our attachments to worldly things have confiscated our attention. The Celts call these encounters “thin spaces” where the veil between the heaven and earth is lifted, if even for a moment. And it is those times when we simply must face Love Itself and whisper, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”

Use it. Use it at the communion rail. Use it when you notice something beautiful or something disturbing or something that angers you. God longs for us to utter these words. Draw close.

Anger as Sad's Bodyguard

For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.        2 Timothy 4: 3-5

"Anger"           Aaron Paquette

I am sad today. Sad that truth is so often swept under the rug. Sad that our country is in such distress that we are all angry with each other, calling each other names, and showing intolerance for those closest to us. The phrase “accumulating for themselves teachers to suit their own desires” – while true – is less problematic for me than the phrase which follows it, “they will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.” Therein lies the sadness I feel.

When we stop listening, we are on dangerous ground. We gather up all sorts of “spiritual books” and accouterments to prop up the lies we chose to believe, but doing so only pulls us deeper into mythology of untruth. Untruths become one’s truth, one’s reality. Perhaps that is what makes me so sad today.

And yet, we have Paul’s sensible advice to Timothy to cling to. We may not change the mindset of those who fabricate truths for themselves and wander away.  We must simply be sober, endure the suffering these myths bring upon us, do the work of Jesus, and carry on.  And so we will.

Pray for us. 

Seeking Joy

Be joyful in God, all you lands; *
sing the glory of his Name; sing the glory of his praise.  Psalm 66:1

Joyful Noise             Nii Teiko Aryeetey - Ghana

As the long days of summer shorten, and the leaves on the trees begin to change colors, and the night air begins to feel crisp, we know we are facing change. The fact is, some people cannot bear this beautiful time of year and the gorgeous fall colors because they live in dread of the onset of winter with all its associated inconveniences. But the Psalmist reminds us to keep the rite of joy in our hearts always.

“Be joyful in God, all ye lands,” the Psalmist pleads, for God has created this mysterious cycle for us. Embrace all aspects of it. Look with wonder as the leaves transform themselves into the brilliant auburn colors without dread. For if you live in dread of winter, you will miss the show of fall.

Be joyful in God when the snow encapsulates us in our homes and brings us close together before the hearth, because we are made for each other. Be joyful in God when the ice begins to thaw, and the first tentative crocus reveals itself as a testimony to God’s plan: that new life will always emerge from death.

Seek after joy and it will surprise you. And in that instant, that instant where you discover it, look up, and thank God for this unfolding, ongoing, eternal joy that God has created for our pleasure. It is there. It is there waiting for us, inviting us into the eternal embrace of the Holy Trinity.

Be joyful in God.