I, too, have found gratitude challenging. Your sermon helped me see that I feel most grateful when a relationship with another goes to a deep level, where we touch each other's souls. Doesn't happen often enough for me and when it does, I soar. I had one of those experiences this morning. That's what listening to your sermon evoked in me. Thank you! I will forever see gratitude in a different light!
Love this insight into Zacchaeus. And your closing take on salvation as "healing and wholeness," as contrasted to the usual "getting to Heaven", is wonderful. Thanks so much.
Ironically, this pericope occurs this year on what us Lutherans, and some others I presume, celebrate as Reformation Sunday. It is a good example of the freeing power of the gospel. Jesus' presence frees Z from his clutching, grabbing, search for riches for a future of gratitude at the unconditional offer of Jesus' grace. Z doesn't earn this grace by responding as he did; rather, he responds in a new freedom of living blessed by Jesus and empowered by a new spirit, a holy Spirit, of thankfulness and giving. Justified, freed, by grace, Z was able to now live in faith that nothing could separate him from this divine love, ever, and he could offer his own life freely, repentantly, and abundantly for others.
What seems most remarkable to me is that Jesus did not see Zaccheus as a Roman stooge, but a son of Israel, a man who cared what others thought. It seems more of an apolitical story, because Jesus refused to typecast Zaccheus, but saw him beneath the hated position. That reminds me of how I typecast people and fail to recognize their humanity.
Thanks for the fascinating interpretation! Luke gives us a number of memorable stories that are not in the other Synoptics, which leads us to wonder where they came from. At least one of them is especially difficult to absorb, the Parable of the Unjust Steward in Luke 16. This morning's surprising interpretation of the story of Zacchaeus strikes me as similar, in that it involves a serious overturning of a social norm. I'll be thinking about this a lot now!
I, too, have found gratitude challenging. Your sermon helped me see that I feel most grateful when a relationship with another goes to a deep level, where we touch each other's souls. Doesn't happen often enough for me and when it does, I soar. I had one of those experiences this morning. That's what listening to your sermon evoked in me. Thank you! I will forever see gratitude in a different light!
Love this insight into Zacchaeus. And your closing take on salvation as "healing and wholeness," as contrasted to the usual "getting to Heaven", is wonderful. Thanks so much.
Ironically, this pericope occurs this year on what us Lutherans, and some others I presume, celebrate as Reformation Sunday. It is a good example of the freeing power of the gospel. Jesus' presence frees Z from his clutching, grabbing, search for riches for a future of gratitude at the unconditional offer of Jesus' grace. Z doesn't earn this grace by responding as he did; rather, he responds in a new freedom of living blessed by Jesus and empowered by a new spirit, a holy Spirit, of thankfulness and giving. Justified, freed, by grace, Z was able to now live in faith that nothing could separate him from this divine love, ever, and he could offer his own life freely, repentantly, and abundantly for others.
Thanks for the meditation,
Glen
Interesting exegesis! I love that this (and most parables and stories) are open to such a variety of interpretations.
Best telling of the "wee little man" story ever!!!!!
consider bringing the southern conference up to virginia or maryland also so that more can come.
What seems most remarkable to me is that Jesus did not see Zaccheus as a Roman stooge, but a son of Israel, a man who cared what others thought. It seems more of an apolitical story, because Jesus refused to typecast Zaccheus, but saw him beneath the hated position. That reminds me of how I typecast people and fail to recognize their humanity.
Thanks for the fascinating interpretation! Luke gives us a number of memorable stories that are not in the other Synoptics, which leads us to wonder where they came from. At least one of them is especially difficult to absorb, the Parable of the Unjust Steward in Luke 16. This morning's surprising interpretation of the story of Zacchaeus strikes me as similar, in that it involves a serious overturning of a social norm. I'll be thinking about this a lot now!