Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Today's text

Luke 19:1-9

Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the town, and suddenly a man whose name was Zacchaeus made his appearance; he was one of the senior tax collectors and a wealthy man. He kept trying to see which Jesus was, but he was too sort and could not see him for the crowd; so he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus who was to pass that way. When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I am to stay at your house today.’ And he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully. They all complained when they saw what was happening. ‘He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house,’ they said. But Zacchaeus stood his group and said to the Lord, ‘Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times to amount. And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of man has come to seek out and save what was lost.

Prayer

It is hard for me to imagine that Zacchaeus was truly lost, dear Friend. The Spirit of holy desire stirred his blood, and he surrendered to that hunger which brought him to you--and you to his house.

Surely, salvation has come to him, for you ate at his table, drank from his cup. You shared fellowship with him and his beloved. But lost? His heart was near and ready for you well before your arrival, supple and eager to receive whatever you should bring. And you bring salvation, which is but another way of saying ‘you,’ for you are the full heart of the All-Loving Mystery, who has no name.

You bring the presence of the One whom we cannot speak, the One our hearts constantly desire. And in your presence, hearts overflow with generosity, not from fear of condemnation but from the nearness of overwhelming love and desire.

Bring such salvation to us this day. Come near and fill our hearts that they may spill over and water the landscapes of our lives with the generosity released by the joy of your nearness.

Pr. David L. Miller