Room for me

Jane Denniston April 23, 2024 4 2

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Luke 19: 1-10 (NRSVA)

19 He entered Jericho and was passing through it. 2 A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax-collector and was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycomore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.’ 6 So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. 7 All who saw it began to grumble and said, ‘He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.’ 8 Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, ‘Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.’ 9 Then Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.’

When royalty comes to town the crowds turn out in greeting and celebration.

When royalty comes to town headlines are made.

When royalty comes to town the crowd is managed carefully, tight security in evidence.

When royalty comes to town the great and the good gather and are assembled, by invitation only, of course.

The small people are not included.

Those without status or money or power are not included.

Those without friends or influence are not included.

Those without the right kind of background are not included.

When Jesus comes to town it is not the wildness of the crowd which is remarkable.

When Jesus comes to town, he seeks out the small people ignoring those of status, those with wealth and power and influence.

When Jesus comes to town he does not seek the respectable, the worthy, those whom the world honours.

When Jesus comes to town, he does not obey the rules of polite society.

Jesus’ standards are not the world standards, and he alone chooses who is worthy of notice.

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

I fear to approach you.

You are surrounded by so many

more fit

more able

more confident

more experienced

more talented

more worthy.

They crowd around you, seeking attention.

Who am I that I should dare to approach?

So I sneak up,

timidly and shyly,

peaking round corners,

trying to approach you

but sure that there are many more important things

demanding your attention.

And then the miracle!

You ignore all those people.

The clever, the skilled,

the socially acceptable.

(They would cut me out and cut me off.

They disparage and dismiss me.

Perhaps some of them even hate me.)

And yet you come towards me!

You notice me and call to me.

I cannot mistake your call.

You look, not over my shoulder

to someone fitter and taller.

You speak to me

and call my name!

You come in, and sit with me

and sup with me

and I am acceptable in your sight.