Sermon for Proper 26 Yr. C: Exceed

Proper 26 Yr. C: Exceed

Luke 19:1-10

The Reverend Paul D. Allick, Church of the Advent, October 30, 2016

In the Eastern Orthodox Tradition, the last Sunday before Lent is

called Zacchaeus Sunday. The Gospel we heard today is read

that day. The story is an introduction to the Lent because it is an

illustration of how repentance works.

Repentance is about conversion.

Archbishop William Temple wrote, “Repentance does not merely

mean giving up a bad habit. What it is concerned with is the mind;

get a new mind...to repent is to adopt God’s viewpoint in place of

your own. There need not be any sorrow about it...far from being

sorrowful, it is the most joyful thing in the world, because when

you have done it, you have adopted the viewpoint of truth itself,

and you are in fellowship with God.”

(found online)

Zacchaeus does not only plead forgiveness from Jesus. He

commits to changing his life, his viewpoint.

Zacchaeus is a tax collector. In his community he is a despised

conspirator.

He has put in a bid with the occupying Government to collect

taxes for them. He makes his living off of the extra he charges his

neighbors. His business is precarious. He never really knows if he

will make enough each month.

Zacchaeus is a chief tax collector. He is in charge of others doing

this type of business. Who knows what kind of dealings he gets

himself involved in.

Why is Zacchaeus so intent on seeing Jesus? Is it curiosity? Does

he need healing for himself or someone in his household?

Something is driving him. He climbs a tree to get a look.

Jesus sees this man in fine clothing making a spectacle of

himself. He looks upon Zacchaeus, this man whose name

ironically means, “righteous” or “pure.” Then Jesus seeks after

him.

In his usual fashion, Jesus invites himself over for dinner. (Jesus

and his disciples always depended on the hospitality of the

community. Unlike the modern Church who sees her role as

offering hospitality to the community.)

Of course, there is grumbling among the crowd that this supposed

prophet of God was going to eat at a sinner’s home. They were

probably used to seeing all kinds of unclean riff raff and foreigners

at that table! And now there sits Jesus.

And then a beautiful thing happens. Zacchaeus is transformed as

he realizes how Jesus has sought him out. He sees how Jesus

shares fellowship with all the people, not just the worthy.

Zacchaeus repents. He commits to a whole new way of life. As

we do in our Baptismal Covenant. He commits to start seeing the

world through God’s viewpoint and not his own.

In his declaration Zacchaeus exceeds the requirements of the

Law. Restitution only required the amount stolen plus twenty

percent of the whole. Zacchaeus gives half of all he has to the

poor. Only the theft of livestock required four or fivefold

repayment. Zacchaeus promises fourfold for whatever he has

acquired dishonestly. (Exodus 22:1, Numbers 5:6-7, 2 Samuel 12:6)

The Christian Life is not about half measures. It isn’t even about

fulfilling the basic requirements. It is about exceeding all

expectations.

In the fifth chapter of Matthew, Jesus preaches, “Do not think that

I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to

abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth

pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from

the law until all is accomplished. But “unless your righteousness

exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter

the kingdom of heaven.” (Meaning you will never quite get what it

means.)

The Prophet Isaiah chastises those who practice their religion

regularly but show no evidence that it matters in their lives, “even

though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are

full of blood. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean...learn to

do good.”

The Lord has always called his people, whether Israel or the

Church, to go beyond the requirements and live abundantly. Take

risks. Climb a tree.

The Church throughout the ages was not built up by saints taking

it easy, living comfortably. We learn of their Christian witness all

week long here at Evening Prayer and Mass.

And what of the saints who built and maintained this parish? How

often over almost two centuries, like many of our neighboring

parishes, did they have to exceed expectations? They had to

exceed expectations through earthquakes, epidemics, and

several financial crises. We joined them in their exceptional faith

as we prayed, hoped, and stayed strong in Christ through an

unprecedented pandemic and shutdown.

We are a small parish always hoping we can afford to be here

next year, but we seem to know how to climb up that tree to get

another look at Jesus. Friends, someday we want what we do now to be the good old

days for the next generation.

I pray for us as St. Paul prayed for the saints in Thessalonica, I,

“always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of

his call and will fulfill by his power every good resolve and work of

faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,

and you in him.”