Proper 26C (Luke 19:1-10)  10/31/2010

The cold weather has returned, many houses are surrounded with cobwebs and scary decorations, and the wonderful Pipescreams concert was held this past Friday: all reminders that tonight is Halloween. Preparing for Halloween prompts us to consider the all important question – what costume should I wear; or in other words, what or who should I transform myself in to for one night of fun? Many years ago when my son was in the first grade he had great difficulty in deciding on his costume. Having exhausted all hope that his parents would be of any help to him, he decided to visit our neighbor across the street. Seeking guidance for the perfect costume, he asked our neighbor what his favorite costume was when he was a young boy – Batman was the answer he received. After thinking a bit about that idea, he asked, “well, what other costumes did you wear?” Batman, that was the only answer…when our neighbor was a young boy he was Batman for 5 or 6 years in a row. Unfortunately, his answer did not prove very useful in helping my son determine his final costume choice. Who should I transform myself to become – he was still faced with a big dilemma.

This morning, we hear that Zacchaeus was also faced with a big dilemma in his life. Zacchaeus’ dilemma appears to be that he wanted to see Jesus in the streets of Jericho, but he was too short to see above the crowds. However, Zacchaeus’ dilemma was much deeper than finding a good spot along the road as Jesus and his disciples passed by. Zacchaeus’ dilemma was really about who he wanted to be…and not just for one fun night of trick-or-treating. Zacchaeus was a tax collector, the chief tax collector. His position meant that he was rich; he was privileged; he lived the easy life that was part of living under the favor of the Roman government…the favor that nearly any good tax collector received…and he was the chief. A good life, by any measure, but in our Gospel lesson this morning we hear that Zacchaeus appeared to be out of sorts with his life of privilege and he thought Jesus just might have the answer. Zacchaeus went searching, but he was blocked by the crowds…the very same people who he took money from nearly every day. Zacchaeus was a rich man, and a rich man could certainly have the common people pushed aside to make room, but he did not do that. On his way to find Jesus, he had already decided to behave in a different way.

Zacchaeus did not have the people pushed aside; instead he climbed a sycamore tree in order to gain a better vantage point of Jesus’ arrival. This must have been a curious site – a well known and powerful rich man perched up in a tree. Jesus came to the place of the tree, looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” (Lk 19:5) Jesus must stay with Zacchaeus because Jesus does not walk away from anyone who seeks God. Jesus must stay with Zacchaeus in order to help him find what he was looking for in his life. Just as Jesus will be with us when we draw close to God…whether we search for God in prayer, in community, or even by climbing a sycamore tree. As Jesus stood at the base of the tree and called to Zacchaeus, Jesus showed the truth of God’s radical and loving grace by choosing him out of the crowd. And the crowd began to grumble and said, ‘He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.’” (Lk 19:7) Although Zacchaeus appeared to the crowd as a tax collector perhaps hoping to transform his life for the better, Jesus recognized the truth about him – Zacchaeus was always a son of Abraham, always a child of God who needed only to be found and transformed in heart and mind.

This evening, the trick-or-treaters have a decision to make: who do I want to be? After considering the many options available to him, my son decided that he would be a baseball player for Halloween, which was a choice that was perfect for him. My neighbor, who was Batman for 5 or 6 years in a row, must have decided wisely as well because he would grow up and become a Secret Service Agent – I guess crime fighting must be in his blood. Halloween is a fun night of surprising transformations, but the next morning the only thing that remains are large piles of candy and maybe some very tired children. But Zacchaeus’ decision to climb a tree and seek Christ was a transformation of a very different sort: his was a transformation for life and a life-saving transformation. And like Zacchaeus, Jesus invites us to rise above those earthly things that block our view of God. Today we are faced with a question: who do I want to be…today, tomorrow and everyday. And as we search for an answer, we are reminded that Jesus said, “For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.” (Lk 19:10) When we are lost and cannot see beyond our crowded lives…and we will be lost from time to time…Christ invites us to climb out of our daily routine and find God, who will always be waiting to transform our hearts and minds and we will know that today salvation has come because we too are children of God.  AMEN