Luke 19:1-10 (for the lectionary on November 3)
Zacchaeus was a product of empire.
He turned his back on his own community in order to represent empire and exploit them for empire and his own, personal gain.
He gained status with Rome, wealth off the backs of his own community and power over others.
He had it good... very good.
So people of all sides grumbled when Jesus recognized Zacchaeus.
He was a sinner to those of his community.
He was a mere servant to those of empire.
He was potential to Jesus.
Zacchaeus encountered Jesus and repented.
He changed his thinking, his values and his direction.
Zacchaeus promised Jesus to give away half of his possessions, specifically for the poor, many of whom he perhaps helped create.
I can hear the snickers and see Jesus' raised eyebrow when he said, "IF I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much." IF? That was his business. It was the norm for tax collectors to use their power, position and status from Rome to exploit others. I am not sure Zacchaeus knew what he was saying. I trust he found out quickly.
Salvation. Restoration to rightness with God. Perhaps restoration to his community. He found wholeness, completeness and well-being in Jesus' Way. He found Shalom, which was something Rome had destroyed for him and all those hurt by him.
There is hope.
For the wealthy who believe they are entitled to wealth by any means and at the expense of anyone else necessary.
For the powerful who abuse their power to control others for their own gain and position.
For those of high status who flaunt their entitlement and seek more of it for their own recognition.
Repent.
Laissez-faire Capitalism is empire.
Any economic system built on the few having much while the many struggle to survive is empire.
Any system that reserves healthcare for the few while the many die is empire.
Any system that exercises two justice systems, one for the white and wealthy and the other for the
poor and minority, is empire.
Any system that exploits its own people and people around the world is empire.
Any system that lavishes good education on the few and de-funds education for the rest is empire.
Any system that rewards the elites with wealth and works the rest to death for subsistence level
income is empire.
The Military Industrial Complex is empire. The occupation of other nations and presence of
destructive armaments across the world is empire. The exorbitant spending on military power
at the expense of people's needs is empire. Corporate Imperialism is empire, as companies move
into lands to exploit the workers, waste their resources and destroy their environments.
Government that only represents the powerful and wealthy is empire.
Giving credibility to the famous for just being famous is empire, or to athletes over scholars, or to
billionaires over servants of humanity.
The pilfering of natural resources, polluting the environment and use of toxic substances for our
convenience that is killing people for the profit of a few, is empire.
The denial of equal rights, equitable treatment and equal justice for all is empire.
There is hope.
Resist. Do not participate in empire's normative values. Promote Kingdom values instead.
Repent. Re-think. Re-direct.
If Zacchaeus, who gained much from his life under empire could do it, so can you.
Salvation came to him because of it.
There is hope.
Be restored to a faithful relationship with God and Neighbor.
Be restored to community and work toward the good of all, instead of the isolation of personal gain.
Be renewed in a hope for a different way, a better way, a sustainable way - Jesus' Way of Agape
Love and Grace.
Encounter Jesus - Jesus' Way of Agape Love and Grace. Be transformed because of it.
Perhaps salvation will come to your house.
Pastor Jamie
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