Luke 19:1-10 | Genesis 16:1-13
Zacchaeus’ story really is a great one.
Jesus’ popularity has grown enough to feature a crowd. Crowds are a place where individual people get lost, particularly those who don’t stand out. Most individuals disappear.
This was Zacchaeus’ desire.
But Jesus saw him.
Luke 19:1-10
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through town. A man there named Zacchaeus, a ruler among tax collectors, was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but, being a short man, he couldn’t because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When Jesus came to that spot, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down at once. I must stay in your home today.” So Zacchaeus came down at once, happy to welcome Jesus.
Everyone who saw this grumbled, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone, I repay them four times as much.”
Jesus said to him, “Today, salvation has come to this household because he too is a son of Abraham. The Human One came to seek and save the lost.”
Genesis 16:1-13
Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to have children. Since she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar, Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from giving birth, so go to my servant. Maybe she will provide me with children.” Abram did just as Sarai said. After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram’s wife Sarai took her Egyptian servant Hagar and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when she realized that she was pregnant, she no longer respected her mistress. Sarai said to Abram, “This harassment is your fault. I allowed you to embrace my servant, but when she realized she was pregnant, I lost her respect. Let the Lord decide who is right, you or me.”
Abram said to Sarai, “Since she’s your servant, do whatever you wish to her.” So Sarai treated her harshly, and she ran away from Sarai.
The Lord’s messenger found Hagar at a spring in the desert, the spring on the road to Shur, and said, “Hagar! Sarai’s servant! Where did you come from and where are you going?”
She said, “From Sarai my mistress. I’m running away.”
The Lord’s messenger said to her, “Go back to your mistress. Put up with her harsh treatment of you.” The Lord’s messenger also said to her,
“I will give you many children,
so many they can’t be counted!”
The Lord’s messenger said to her,
“You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son.
You will name him Ishmael
because the Lord has heard about your harsh treatment.
He will be a wild mule of a man;
he will fight everyone, and they will fight him.
He will live at odds with all his relatives.”
Hagar named the Lord who spoke to her, “You are El Roi” because she said, “Can I still see after he saw me?”
Prayer
God,
With today being Sunday, I’m mindful this morning of your people gathering for worship all over the world. When I stop and think about it, it’s wonderful. I know that sometimes I get frustrated with what I perceive to be significant gaps of desire in the Church. Perhaps you’ve noticed.
But on Sundays, I’m warmed to think of all the different groups in all the different places who gather in all their different ways to give honor and glory to you.
I pray for them all today. Lord, I know you know them better than I possibly could, but I pray for them. Meet each one, both in the individual and in the group. Help all of us in our particular contexts to be aware of the sameness of our Lord. Move us all to the ends of Christ, despite our differences in approach and understanding.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.