Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Today's text

Luke 19:1-6

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.

Prayer

Tell me, Jesus, does Zacchaeus remind you of anyone? Do you smile in recognition at his anxious antics? You should, my Friend, because you know well that holy and crazy desire to which he abandons himself.

I can’t get beyond the smile I see in you as you watch him. A smile of delight and divine pleasure? To be sure. But more: a smile of recognition. You know him. You know what moves him. You know the uninhibited surrender to a Spirit truly holy to whom you will give everything because nothing else much matters.

You bear and are moved by the Spirit that makes short men climb trees just to see you. Your life is totally given and utterly transparent to that Spirit of divine love and holiness. Just so, you are crazy in love with this world, willing to love it—and me—to the end of all you are.

An act of surrender? Truly. But also of mad, outrageous love that knows no satisfaction but in the presence of the beloved. So you, too, will climb your tree in utter abandonment to a world you love, and in total trust that the All Loving One is stronger than death itself.

Thank you.

May I be so given as you.

Pr. David L. Miller