Proper 26C October 31, 2004

When you did, good things happened; when you obstinately refused he’d get you for it. Such is the way of the political world.

Lyndon Johnson played the hand he was dealt; Zacchaeus did; we all do.

Johnson knew poverty in his youth; he ambitious and he worked hard; he was goal oriented and sometimes cut corners; he married well; he accomplished much. He was in intention an honest man, and he knew something of the joy of the Lord.

We learn five things about Zacchaeus from today’s gospel, one physical, one social, and three about his character. Physically, Zacchaeus "was short in stature." Socially, he was "a chief tax collector and" from that became "rich." The Roman military occupation contracted tax collection.

Investors paid the estimated taxes for an area in advance and then collected from the people. Jericho was then as now an important commercial center. Until the recent conflicts Jericho was the Palestinian Las Vegas; Jews and Arabs met at the casino gambling tables.

To have become the chief tax collector in Jericho Zacchaeus had to have been ambitions and goal oriented, to have worked hard and from his post conversion commitment to fourfold restitution to those he had defrauded we learn that he had indeed cut corners. Zacchaeus had played the hand he was dealt and played it well from all outward appearances.

But all was not well within. We all desire the good opinion of those around us. Zacchaeus "was short in stature." Some who are shorter than the average are sensitive to comments made by the over-tall. And Zacchaeus was a collaborator with an occupying foreign army, a scallywag, tolerated, but not welcome. We play the hand we’re dealt, but we all wish for a few better cards so we don’t have to bluff so often. Zacchaeus was honest enough to recognize his need. He did not deny it.

So when Zacchaeus climbed the tree, and Jesus called him down, inviting himself - and his disciples - to visit, Zacchaeus was happy to welcome him. So ambition, honesty, and joy - these three elements of his character leavened Zacchaeus’ feelings about his height and his service to the occupying forces. They made him ready to receive Jesus and in the presence and power of Jesus to change his life - and spend much of his money - half of his capital to the poor, and restore fourfold what he had taken by fraud.

Regardless of stature, regardless of vocation, work, and social position, the three elements of Zacchaeus’ character can help us live with Jesus in our house. He will not come where he is not welcome. We need to be ambitious and work hard to prepare a place for him. We need to be honest, recognizing and freely admitting our own need. The people laughed at Zaccaeus up in the tree. Being laughed at is no fun, but we need to be willing to be laughed at as we seek to know Jesus and to do his will. And we need to tap into that deep underground river of joy in Jesus presence, and to life out the freedom of that joy in all we do. Few of us are called to give away half our capital. Even the law of punitive damages stops at three times restitution of the amount gained by fraud. But we are called to set aside the first dollar of every 10 for the Lord’s work, and to do so like Zacchaeus in joy and thanksgiving .

I was in seminary when President Kennedy was shot and Lyndon Johnson became President. The Sunday following I went as usual to the Episcopal church on Capitol Hill, sitting about halfway back on the right side. The three pews in front of me were empty. Six men in suits came in and sat at the aisle ends of the pews, quietly turning away others who wanted to sit in those pews. The service did not begin on time, but about 5 minutes after the hour Mrs. Johnson, the President, and their two daughters came down the aisle and sat in the middle pew. It was Morning Prayer and I remember the President kneeling in the pew with his family around him, as we prayed that God would grant to him, "and to all in authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do thy will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve this people in thy fear."

Ambition, honesty, and joy. God grant us these gifts as we play the hand we are dealt so we may receive Jesus when he calls and receive salvation in our house.