I always like when this Gospel today comes around because it can teach us much about our relationship with God.  Zaccheus merely wanted to see Jesus—he climbed the tree to get some height that his physical stature didn’t allow him.  Up the tree, he could see Jesus, safely, from a distance.  But Jesus had something else in mind—he wanted to know Zaccheus in a more personal way—he wanted to come to his house—eat with him—talk with him—get to know him.  It is the same with us—Jesus wants to get to know us—share our lives—a concept we shouldn’t miss when reading this gospel.

On a deeper level, the story of Zaccheus tells us something about the culture of the time and within that culture is where Jesus was able to reach Zaccheus and enter into his life, giving him true life.  Zaccheus we know, was a tax-collector; a profession despised by any respectable Jew.  Being a tax-collector meant that you worked for the occupying Romans.  You were not salaried, but took your living out of the extra taxes you demanded from your neighbors.  There was no limit on this—Zaccheus merely had to pay a set amount to the Romans and anything above that was his. We know that he took care of himself because, as the Scriptures say, “he was wealthy.”

There are many interesting twists in this story and Jesus uses them all to teach those gathered, along with offering Zaccheus something he could not buy through his tax-collecting. First, recalling that Zaccheus was despised by his neighbors for his profession—he joined a group of others—Samaritans, prostitutes, and lepers, also looked down upon.  It was custom/culture to shun people who certainly weren’t living very good lives; it was thought, as to end up in such places and predicaments.  It would be the same if we were to assume that any of us who live with an ailment in life are getting what we deserve.

Now we might look down on this kind of behavior, but in our day, has the mindset changed that much in dealing with people we don’t understand, can’t accept, or don’t approve of? We may ignore, refuse to listen, even judge them, taking comfort in a group of people who think and act as we do, telling ourselves that we are right and they, the “different ones,” are wrong.  We don’t wish to really hear a dissenting message, as it disturbs our comfort level.

A case in point looms before us in North Dakota with the Native People demonstrating against an oil pipeline that they feel could rupture and destroy the waterways that literally give their people life. The juxtaposition is that we all use oil, so we all need to prayerfully consider where we come down on this issue.

Jesus we know was one to turn things upside down.  Everyone knew that respectable Jews didn’t enter the home of a known sinner and all the above mentioned; tax-collectors, prostitutes and lepers, were in that category.  Who are the outcasts in our society, we might ask, that we choose not to be seen with? Jesus, our brother doesn’t let these culture mores stand in his way, but enters Zaccheus’ house anyway.  Jesus always looked deeper, wanted to get to know people; not just assume them worthless because of what they did.  He wanted to talk with them, hear their stories, love them where they were and then call them to be more.

By the very fact that Jesus wanted to come to Zaccheus’ house already told Zaccheus that he was dealing with someone a cut above the rest, and one who could offer him true meaning in life.  One of the interesting twists in this story is that even though Zaccheus was wealthy, which would indicate some power-over-others, he was short in stature—an issue, or it wouldn’t have been mentioned.  We know it impeded Zaccheus from clearly seeing this important figure to his town, Jesus.  People in Zaccheus’ time looked at any physical impediment as most likely caused by sin.  Being that Zaccheus was a tax-collector, a despicable profession, probably was a reason for his shortness, culture dictated.

Once again Jesus calls the lie to such narrow thinking.  I want to come to your house today Zaccheus—to dine with you.  I want to know you.  Jesus’ sentiment comes right out of the Wisdom reading for today, “You love all things that are created and loathe nothing.  Because Jesus looked into Zaccheus’ heart, Zaccheus found the strength—the grace, to change his life.   Jesus always chose the compassionate, understanding response—not the easier one that so many in his day and we too, at times choose.  If we can categorize those that aren’t like us, put them in a box—because, they are wrong and we are right, we don’t need to ever grow closer, ever come to understanding.  And during this election year, there is plenty of grist for such “easy” sizing up of people.

In that vein, I was pleased to read a commentary by former congressperson, Tim Penny this past week in the Winona Daily News where he did some comparison of the political process that we have all been through these last 18 months as compared to what people of all stripes manage to do through philanthropic organizations.  The political process tends to be so divisive whereas the more “neutral” organizations designed for giving to worthy causes tend to unite people after a common cause.

The word Penny uses in his commentary to describe the philanthropic endeavors, is “collaboration.” Collaboration isn’t always easy he says, but it is the way to go. It seems to me, a good idea to embrace across the board to give life, and as Penny indicates, more vitality.

All the readings today are about salvation—not in the narrow sense of saving folks from their humanness—but in a much broader sense.  Jesus wants people to know, as described in the Wisdom reading, the Creator “loves all of creation,” or would not have made it!  We might also say, “God created only that which is loved!”

Jesus, in the great heart of God, knows and understands Zaccheus—he knows what he does for a living and he knows why he does it—he knows all that makes up Zaccheus’ life.  He doesn’t judge, but moves to the next step—he respects Zaccheus and loves him to be more than Zaccheus thought was possible.

With Jesus, simple acceptance of Zaccheus where he was, then gave him the strength through Jesus’ love to change his life—that is what salvation is really all about—finding the strength to be all we were created to be.

We have to smile when we think of Zaccheus, the wealthy tax-collector, wielding, no doubt a good bit of power around Jericho, by nature of his occupation , climbing the sycamore tree like an excited child to see someone, he knew was important for reasons he wasn’t totally aware of.  He had the misconception that, up the tree, he probably wouldn’t be seen. Little did he know that Jesus was about to teach him and all of Jericho a significant lesson—God loved him right where he was and for what he was.

Certainly Jesus knew all that Zaccheus was capable of and through love, selflessly given, compassion and understanding, Jesus brought about the transformation in him that at some level Zaccheus was looking for when he climbed the tree that day.

For each of us friends, Jesus is on the look-out each and every day of our lives to enter in through the sorrows, the joys, the “ah-ha” moments.  We try to hide, in safe places too, up our own trees—behind our names, our situations—our pain, the people we know—thinking that God won’t find us or probably doesn’t care.  And if we think that, we would be wrong.  Let me say that again—if we think that our God doesn’t care—WE WOULD BE WRONG!  All we have to do is reflect on all the Scriptures where Jesus goes out of his way to make a difference in people’s lives like today with Zaccheus.

This gospel story tells us in no uncertain terms that our God wants to be part of our lives, wants us to be our best selves.  And it all begins, simply, with love.  Once we know we are loved and accepted, we can then share that love with others.

Paul prays today with us that God will continually make us worthy of our call as followers of Jesus, the Christ—that by his power in our lives, all good and works of faith will be accomplished through us.  On this next Tuesday, the Church will celebrate the feast of All Saints. No doubt, we will reflect on some of our favorite saints through the years, who have touched our lives. I think it is important to remember that we are all saints in God’s eyes—we all have that inherent goodness that our God created us with—we just need to show the truth of that each day in our lives.

On Wednesday, the Church will celebrate the feast of All Souls—a day we remember all those who have gone before us—many who have shown us the way. It is significant that near the end of the church year, we reflect on who we are in God’s eyes, who have been the people who have touched and mentored us in life and make a resolution to be all that we can be in their memory, going forward.

Each week we pray for those who have died when we gather here for liturgy. As a community we have created a book that we can open each year during the month of November and remember in a special way all those who have gone before us who have helped make us who we are. So, beginning next Sunday and throughout the month of November, I will invite you to record the names, birth and death dates of your loved ones. This special book is our parish’s Book of Life.

Paul’s prayer today, that all good and works of faith be accomplished through us is a mighty challenge. My friends—let us pray for the grace to be faithful to this call.

My friends, Ordinary Time, which is soon coming to an end, challenges us around the ordinary “stuff” of our lives, instructing us to find the answers to what makes life meaningful in the everyday, realizing that our faith will be lived out in our present lives, if at all.  There is nothing “out of the ordinary” that God asks of us , only that we engage wholeheartedly in the endeavors of each day.

We are called as baptized Christians to proclaim the Gospel and we do that primarily by the way that we live our lives, the choices we make for good, for the care of others and our world.

Clarissa Pinkola Estes, American poet and author of Women Who Run with the Wolves, speaks of “calm” and within that attribute encourages us to powerful actions, in the midst of “a stormy world.” She challenges us to “show our souls.”

I believe we saw evidence of “soul showing” this week in a speech given by First Lady, Michelle Obama denouncing Republican Presidential nominee, Donald Trump for the deplorable way he has treated women, for the deplorable way he speaks of them and for having bragged about abusing women. As she so rightly says, this goes beyond politics to what is basic, human decency.  She went so far as to say that his kind of rhetoric not only angers her, but it makes her afraid for our country.  This is the definition of “showing your soul.”  All of today’s readings additionally call us to perseverance in living our lives of faith and as St. Paul says, “When convenient and when inconvenient.”

The first reading from Exodus encourages perseverance in prayer—the second, perseverance in preaching the gospel and the Gospel passage from Luke encourages us to fight for justice until we have it!

The first reading is problematic for many Christians today because of its violence.  It would appear that the power of God is assisting Moses and the Israelites to wipe out Amalek and his army and not only to defeat them, but, “to put them to the sword.” It is important to remember that there is a cultural difference that we are dealing with as we read this story from the ancient Israelites and try to insert it into our own culture.

The place of war and battle and God’s part in it meant something different to them in their relationship with God than it means for us today.  We have the benefit of Jesus’ teaching that they did not.

This reading does hold richness for us though.  The richness comes from understanding the persistence of the Israelite people and that translates for us the same way—we must be persistent in asking God for what we need, trusting that God will provide, no matter how hard the difficulties we face.

The other piece that is so significant in this reading from Exodus is the importance of humility on our parts-realizing that we aren’t self-sufficient-that we need help beyond ourselves to sustain the strength needed to persevere.  God answers our prayers for assistance through our communities of faith and care.  Aaron and Hur assisted Moses in the battle by holding up his arms-he became tired and couldn’t remain strong by himself.  Each of us have found ourselves in such predicaments-we know the right thing to do, but the fight often becomes tiring-we need a supportive friend to say, “I understand, I support you, I’ve got your back!”

The opposite is also true-sometimes the “shoe is on the other foot” so to speak.  Someone else needs a friend, needs the support-how often do we lift a hand-speak a word for another who is perhaps discriminated against and is standing alone, facing the status quo group who doesn’t want to be bothered?

Paul’s letter to Timothy in today’s 2nd reading gets into this issue. He is admonishing Timothy as a baptized follower of Jesus, the Christ to persevere in following the Gospel–not only when easy and convenient, but when hard and inconvenient.  We can all look to our own life experiences and name times when the way was clear as to what was needed to be done, in a relationship, in our family, or within our business place, organization or elsewhere-yet to proceed with what was needed would certainly not be convenient or initially, very peaceful.  Even so, the way we needed to be/to go, was still clear—this is the kind of perseverance that Paul is challenging us about today.

This is the perseverance that Michelle Obama was talking about in her speech.  She struggled with saying something and ultimately realized that her integrity as a person was at stake—for all the daughters, sisters, mothers, aunts who have been belittled and abused, she needed to speak!

The First Lady follows a long line of strong women beginning with the widow in today’s Gospel.  Michelle Obama understands the plight of the gospel widow—as a woman herself and a black woman at that, she already has two strikes against her and in a culture that still doesn’t openly and immediately disavow the disgusting rhetoric of an individual running for president simply because he happens to be male.  The First Lady realizes that she and all and each woman must speak up for justice until the “judge” gives her some.

Our baptisms call us to continually keep our eyes on Jesus, attempting to live with love and compassion for our sisters and brothers, whoever they may be.  We are called to gentleness, to mercy, to forgiveness, and to truth.  Speaking the truth when needed is often not the most pleasant thing to do-it is often easier to remain silent, hoping that someone else will do it.  But friends, change doesn’t happen when we enable bad behavior that is not Christ-like to continue–whether we see it in our families, in our friends, or in our Church.  The skill is to learn how to do it with love.

And as Clarissa Pinkola Estes said so well: “There will always be times when you feel discouraged.  I too have felt despair many times in my life, but I do not keep a chair for it.  I will not entertain it.  It is not allowed to eat from my plate.  The reason is this: In my uttermost bones, I know something, as do you.  It is that there can be no despair when you remember why you came to earth, who you serve, and who sent you here.  The good words we say and the good deeds we do are not ours. They are the words and deeds of the One who brought us here.  In that Spirit—I invite you to consider Pinkola Estes’ words:  “When a great ship is in harbor and moored, it is safe; there can be no doubt.  But that is not what great ships are built for.”

My friends, it is great to be back with you all again! Being away always serves two wonderful realities. Getting away opens one up to more and new ideas through seeing how people in different places respond to their lands of origin, life choices in work and relationships and just the pure and simple beauty of the land.  The other reality is returning home to all that is familiar and dear and re-engaging with life—refreshed! Being away did both for us; so here we are!

Today, we are called and challenged to practice two very important values in our faith that come directly from what it means to be human. The values are compassion and gratitude.  As human beings, our very natures call us to be our best and we know that life in community flows along so much better when we are respectful of others and their needs as well as our own.  Furthermore, if we can show gratitude for the good that others do for us, life becomes so much better.

Unfortunately, some people in our age and time have more of a sense that life owes them something and they bullishly move through their days and years trying to claim “their rights” while giving little if anything in return.  In our faith as Christians, as followers of our brother, Jesus, the Christ, whose life was all about love and service—especially to those in society considered, “less than” others, for whatever reason; we must be people of compassion and gratitude and take it to a new level.

In two of our readings today, we hear of the dreaded illness, leprosy.  Known medically as Hansen’s disease and thought by most to be eradicated, is, says the World Health Organization, a major health concern in the developing countries of our world.

That having been said, in both the First and Second Testaments of the Bible, the term, “leprosy” covered a multitude of skin diseases, psoriasis and eczema among them.  There was so little understanding of what caused illness at this time, that it is understandable that people would fear being around folks who they might contract illness from, and a despicable one at that. Any affliction that included weeping sores was considered leprosy and made the person ritually unclean or unfit for worship.

So then, enter Jesus who as we know, always called his followers to more goodness, to more character. He always tried to work within the law and he understood how the people thought, thus his instruction to show themselves to the priests who would then OK them for worship. And then there was the added piece—that this affliction was no doubt caused by a grievous sin—again, because they didn’t know how it was caused, this seemed plausible and was reinforced by the clergy of the time. Jesus, our brother didn’t let it stop there knowing that the common practice was to shun them from the community when really what they needed was good food, good care—to be kept clean, so that they could heal—basically, to be loved and that is why he cured them.

Then, we meet Naaman, a non-Israelite in the First Testament reading from 2 Kings. In both this reading and that of the Gospel of Luke; we see two people whom we might think , given their status as outcasts, might not be grateful, if in fact we can make the case that those on the lower rungs of society would have no social skills either.  We see that the one who returns to thank Jesus is a Samaritan, and even though a Jew, is still considered “less than” even within his own group of people.

Naaman shows us the way when he sees what has happened—he praises the God of Elisha and takes it up a notch, wanting to gift Elisha for his goodness, his compassion toward him.  Because Elisha will take no reward for what God has called him to do, Naaman makes a strange request—that he be given two mule loads of earth. It makes sense though,  you see, when we learn that Naaman not only chooses to now follow and believe in Elisha’s God, but he wants to take some of the ground of Israel back to his own country where upon he can praise this God who was so gracious and compassionate as to cure him of his affliction.

This is much the same notion that travelers, such as Robert and I—yourselves and others have in mind when we bring something back from the places that we visit to keep the good of our experiences close by and to not soon forget what we experienced in a new place and culture.

Part of my desire to go to Prince Edward Island was to experience the land and places that writer; Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote so delightfully about in Anne of Green Gables.  I was introduced to Anne first through the public television series and only now am reading the stories and finding myself pleased with how faithful the movie version is to the written form—in many places, word for word!  Prince Edward Island is a lovely, green place as are many of these Northern provinces, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick where the “colors” were at their peak last week.

The Samaritan in today’s Gospel, who in many ways, can be called, “good,” even though his society looked down on him, was the only one to return and give thanks for what Jesus had done for him.  The others went off to show themselves to the priest which was part of the law that they followed—in fact, it was what Jesus told them to do.

The point of this story friends, is not to criticize people for following the law, but to challenge theirs and our thinking around the fact that if following the law ever gets in the way of making the compassionate response–that of being purely grateful for what was given–moving perhaps out of our self-centeredness, then our response should be clear. We must always remember that Jesus our brother, calls us to more—more goodness, more character.

With this new month of October, I have begun to consider renewing my commitment to the Rochester Franciscans as a Cojourner, which I originally made three years ago.  As a Cojourner, I am choosing to try and walk more closely with these Sister followers of Francis and Clare.  I will put together a ritual that will lift up the fact that I am better and the Sisters are better in we can walk together—sharing, each from our God-given gifts, for the betterment of all. Interestingly enough, one of the candidates asking for the privilege of leading our country this year has been saying the same thing! “We are better when we stand together!”

The reading from 2 Timothy finds Paul in prison; yet he is able to continue to believe and trust in Jesus, the Christ, who saved and allowed him to live in a way that would save others.  Faith is another important piece in the stories we are given today.  It took faith for Naaman to jump into the river—it took faith for the 10 lepers to go off and present themselves to the priests, believing that indeed they had been cured.It takes faith my friends for each of us to trust and believe that God will be true to God’s word—that Jesus’ words toward the end of his physical life with us, “Don’t be afraid; I will be with you, always,” are true.

During the second week of our recent trip, I was called to reflect on Jesus’ words here when my body was more of a hindrance to me then a help as I had a bout of sciatica in my left leg that made itself known in the early hours of each morning.  My spirit was tested as I implored God to be with me. Our good God sent my dear husband Robert for comfort and in the days since home, I am treating the symptoms.

We cannot leave these readings without lifting up one more key point that they make clear, and that is God’s over-the-top love for each of us–no exceptions!  Once again, Luke’s Jesus makes it clear that Abba God’s love is for everyone—no one is less than anyone else.

Jesus additionally challenges all of us around the thinking of his day which is still with us in our day to some extent, and that is the idea that God punishes us with illness because of our sin.  Jesus choosing to be with the afflicted in his earthly life certainly put the lie to such thinking.  My bout with sciatica could certainly have caused me to wonder where God was, had I chosen to go there.

As I stated earlier, God was present in the love and support of Robert as I would have been for him were the tables turned. This is something we simply must always remember, our God is with us in all the love that surrounds us—we must always believe that for it gives us so much hope. Our faith, my friends, our belief in Jesus always calls us to more, to be bigger, better people, to name lies as such whether they come from Church or State demanding the very best from our leaders, including the “wannabes.”   Jesus pulls down the walls of power that we humans construct saying that a certain culture, gender, lifestyle is better than any other.

Pope Francis, a breath of fresh air for our Church is doing the same—once again calling our nation to the need that each of us let go of control and grab onto love as the way to face and embrace our world.  He is coming at the “woman issue” a little bit slower than many would like through the issue of women deacons, but at least he is allowing some conversation and engaging in it himself.

A book that a friend introduced me to a few years back that Robert and I have been discussing lately, The Creation of Patriarchy, by Gerda Lerner is one that Francis and all church men need to embrace so that they can let go of really ignorant statements such as, “women can’t be ordained—it can’t be done!”

As Lerner spells out so well, it’s a move of power against women from earliest times—that simple, born out of power and it can be changed whenever the men decide to do it—end of story! To ever give the reason that somehow God would be offended if  leadership roles were given to women, is absolutely absurd coming from a God who created us all as equal. Maybe from a male, chauvinistic god, this would be understandable, but not from the God that I know.

On a positive note, this past week, Francis has been talking to the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby about the ways the two groups are alike pointing to some movement forward.

We must all begin to look at God’s people—everyone as God looks at each of us—with love, nothing else, just love.  Presently, we are holding on our hearts and minds the people of Haiti, especially those in Jeremie, whose town was flattened by the ravages of Hurricane Matthew.  This particular place has special meaning for our family as our son Isaac served for 2 years in that area while in the Peace Corps. And certainly the people along our Eastern Coast as well should be remembered.

The terminology around Hurricane Matthew speaks of “storm surges” and “walls of water”—devastating to say the least. If we were to take this terminology and apply it to our world in Jesus’ name—letting our compassion for others be that big—letting each of us strive to be all that we can be—can you imagine what a force that would be? Let’s give it a try in our own backyard going forward. Amen? Amen!