A Harvest Message
As we celebrate harvest, may the seeds of God's word in our hearts, bear much fruit in our lives.
Our first reading this morning from Psalm 65 focuses our minds on the greatness of God throughout His creation and his unfailing love through the generosity in giving us all what we need through nature and farming. It doesn't, of course, stop us from mis-using it through selfishness and greed which is a feature in our Gospel reading. Zacchaeus is a selfish and greedy man, who has not always dealt with scrupulous honesty and integrity. But he knows, he suspects somehow, that there is another way, a different path to the one he has trodden thus far, so he goes to see if the answer lies with this new, so called prophet person.... and then it comes...the clarion call.... "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.”
It's not just that Jesus knows who he is, and what he is (as God knows us, inside and out), it's more than an encounter - it's a relationship of affection and acceptance..... Zacchaeus is so overwhelmed by this public acceptance and love that he repents, he reforms, he changes from a taker to a giver.
He repents and promises to repay anyone he has cheated by a factor of 4 times as much....but only after he has given half of his possessions to the poor.
The giving is generous - way beyond the tithing of ten percent required as a religious obligation or duty, but an overwhelming response to the overwhelming love he has received.
1 John 4.9-10
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
and it's not just about giving what you can afford...... remember the story of the poor widow's giving [2 chapters after our Gospel reading - maybe Luke wants to emphasise this point?]
Luke 21.1-4
As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”undefined
Zacchaeus is closer to that widow than to the rich who made a show of the money bags they dropped into the treasury chests at the temple entrance. he promised to give half of his possessions, not just his money. He would be giving up things that he loved, not just possessed, his giving, like the widow's, was sacrificial. [reference to cadbury chocolate advert... young girl paying for her mum's birthday present with most precious toy]
We who have plenty to eat can generously support the local charities and food banks, not just today with our bounty collected in the service, and isn't it wonderful, but throughout the year in the supermarkets, the rainbow centre and specific events organised when supplies are getting low. As we rejoice and give thanks for God's awesome love and provision to us, let that generosity spill over into our lives, not just 7 days in one week but 365 and a quarter days of the year.