Up A Tree

He entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax-collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.’ So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, ‘He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.’ Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, ‘Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.’ Luke 19:1-10

In Sunday School, as a child, I learned a song about Zacchaeus, which I still remember to this day. The final words of the song are something like, "I am coming to your house today, I am coming to your house to stay." Zacchaeus wasn't perfect, he was a rich tax collector and much maligned by the religious leaders. Yet his heart was open and he sought Jesus, who came to his house bringing love and salvation. We are all sinners and fragile humans. And Jesus is always ready to come to our house to stay.

Precious Creator, you seek us out

you know us each by our names

and call to us when we are up a tree

seeking to come join us in our homes.

We forget to take time to seek you

we try to hide our flaws and mistakes

we throw money at the problems 

yet you seek us out in our hiding places.

Help us to seek you every morning

let us not be afraid to ask for help

make us your followers always

and come to our homes and stay with us. Amen.