Sermon podcast from theReformation Sunday, 10-30-22 worship service - St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. Luke 19:1-10
Showing posts with label Luke 19:1-10. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Luke 19:1-10. Show all posts
10/30/2022
Love - Luke 19:1-10 - Reformation Sunday - 10-30-22
Sermon podcast from theReformation Sunday, 10-30-22 worship service - St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. Luke 19:1-10
11/04/2019
Love
Sermon podcast from yesterday at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. Luke 19:1-10
Video sermon preview
"Love" Podcast
Video sermon preview
"Love" Podcast
10/31/2016
Love
Sermon podcast from yesterday at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. Wanna sing that Zacchaeus Song?
"Love" podcast
"Love" podcast
10/28/2013
Manners
I don’t know where I learned all of this. But over the years, my parents, teachers, books, friends, and probably a few ‘holier than thou’ folks have taught me about manners. I’ve learned that it is bad manners to:
For religious people to spend social time with “sinners.”
And for “sinners” to invite religious people to their houses.
But it was also bad manners to fail to provide hospitality to strangers.
I’m totally in favor of some of the "manners" rules. I like the ones that remind folks to treat anyone with respect and dignity. But I really don’t see the reason for the “but that’s not proper looking” ones. Those seem to too often serve the opposite purpose. (“Shame on you for putting your elbows on the table!)
In this week’s Bible reading from Luke 19:1-10:
Jesus invited himself over to Zacchaeus’ house.
He socialized with an outcast, a “sinner.”
That ‘sinner’ provided hospitality to Jesus.
It’s time to rethink the whole manners thing.
- Eat “non finger foods” with your fingers.
- Put your elbows on the table
- Talk with your mouth full.
- Talk behind people’s backs.
- Invite someone out on a date, and then sit in your car and honk the horn when you pick them up.
- Cut in line.
- Grumble.
- Brag about yourself.
- Invite yourself over to someone else’s house.
For religious people to spend social time with “sinners.”
And for “sinners” to invite religious people to their houses.
But it was also bad manners to fail to provide hospitality to strangers.
I’m totally in favor of some of the "manners" rules. I like the ones that remind folks to treat anyone with respect and dignity. But I really don’t see the reason for the “but that’s not proper looking” ones. Those seem to too often serve the opposite purpose. (“Shame on you for putting your elbows on the table!)
In this week’s Bible reading from Luke 19:1-10:
Jesus invited himself over to Zacchaeus’ house.
He socialized with an outcast, a “sinner.”
That ‘sinner’ provided hospitality to Jesus.
It’s time to rethink the whole manners thing.
10/29/2010
Grumbling
Sure, there's an election day on Tuesday - but aside from some subtle mentions, Sunday's sermon at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk isn't about that. It's based on Monday's Bible study blog post (Clean and pure) and how God is working for reformation, reconciliation, and salvation.
"Grumbling" text
"Grumbling" podcast
"Grumbling" text
"Grumbling" podcast
10/25/2010
Clean and pure
This week's Bible study post . . .
Zacchaeus. His name means clean and pure in Hebrew. And he was not well loved by the people of Jericho. The people were sure that he was a crook. Why? Because, of course, anyone who was the chief tax collector must be a crook! He was rich, for goodness sake! There’s nothing clean and pure about a rich person who is in charge of the tax collections!
It appears that no one ever took the time to notice that Zacchaeus gave half of his income to the poor and if he was ever caught cheating he paid four times in damages.
They just hated him because that is what you’re supposed to do with tax collectors. They hated him because all rich people must be crooks. They hated him because there were political ads on the radio that told them to hate him because he was so awful.
OK – that last part didn’t happen.
“But wait,” you say, “the verses say that Zacchaeus said that he would give half his income away and that he would pay back four times if he cheated anyone. It doesn’t say that he was already doing that!”
I guess that depends on how you’re reading the passage. Bible scholars continue to debate, but I think that the text, translated in most English translations as “will give” or “will pay” should be translated simply, “give” and “pay.”
Zacchaeus, the one with the name that means “clean” and “pure”, sought out Jesus because he wanted to welcome someone who had already changed his life. He wanted to welcome the one who loved the ones that it seemed everyone else shunned, rejected, and hated.
What are your thoughts?
Zacchaeus. His name means clean and pure in Hebrew. And he was not well loved by the people of Jericho. The people were sure that he was a crook. Why? Because, of course, anyone who was the chief tax collector must be a crook! He was rich, for goodness sake! There’s nothing clean and pure about a rich person who is in charge of the tax collections!
It appears that no one ever took the time to notice that Zacchaeus gave half of his income to the poor and if he was ever caught cheating he paid four times in damages.
They just hated him because that is what you’re supposed to do with tax collectors. They hated him because all rich people must be crooks. They hated him because there were political ads on the radio that told them to hate him because he was so awful.
OK – that last part didn’t happen.
“But wait,” you say, “the verses say that Zacchaeus said that he would give half his income away and that he would pay back four times if he cheated anyone. It doesn’t say that he was already doing that!”
I guess that depends on how you’re reading the passage. Bible scholars continue to debate, but I think that the text, translated in most English translations as “will give” or “will pay” should be translated simply, “give” and “pay.”
Zacchaeus, the one with the name that means “clean” and “pure”, sought out Jesus because he wanted to welcome someone who had already changed his life. He wanted to welcome the one who loved the ones that it seemed everyone else shunned, rejected, and hated.
What are your thoughts?
11/02/2007
Bad manners
This week's "Opening the Bible" blog entry for i.ucc.org (Present future) is still present -- but (I can't find a "future" pun that will work here) completely woven into this week's sermon for the grown-ups at Union Congregational Church in Somonauk. However, even though it's for the grownups, this week Mrs. Von Quack - the puppet -- makes a guest appearance."Bad Manners" text
"Bad Manners" podcast
10/29/2007
Present future
Here's this week's "Opening the Bible" blog entry for i.ucc.org:
I’ve heard the story of Zacchaeus from Luke 19:1-10 countless times. For most of my life I’ve remembered the “climbing up a tree” part and also the “I’m going to your house today!” part. I’ve learned that Jesus notices the ones who seek him and “comes over” to spend time with them. I’ve also learned that Jesus loves people of all sizes and from all walks of life.
And I love that I’ve learned those things.
And this week, at the risk of taking what I’ve experienced as a simple story and making it much more heady, I want to wrestle with verb tense.
When Jesus was at Zacchaeus’ house and Zacchaeus said, "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," Jesus responded with “Today salvation has come to this house.” (I’m purposely staying away from the “son of Abraham” part right now – since it brings up a different question and I don’t want my mind to wander off just yet. Wait. Where was I?)
Bible-smarty pants people have suggested that Zacchaeus could also have said “"Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I pay back four times as much."
In the first case it sounds like Zacchaeus has had a life-changing experience with Jesus and he decides to change his dishonest ways and make things right. And Jesus responds with joy and celebration.
In the second case, it sounds like Zacchaeus is telling Jesus (not so unlike the way the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14 – last week’s reading did) exactly what he does do. And Jesus responds with joy and celebration.
So I’m just wondering.
If Zacchaeus is talking about his future, and he’s showing faith in Jesus, and because of that faith Jesus calls him a “son of Abraham,” does it mean that this is a radical conversion story about someone who once was lost but now is found?
Or
If Zacchaeus is talking about his present, and he’s been showing faith in Jesus, and because of that faith Jesus calls him a “son of Abraham,” does it mean that this is an extraordinary journey story about someone who is on the journey from lost to found?
And what would really be the difference?
I’ve heard the story of Zacchaeus from Luke 19:1-10 countless times. For most of my life I’ve remembered the “climbing up a tree” part and also the “I’m going to your house today!” part. I’ve learned that Jesus notices the ones who seek him and “comes over” to spend time with them. I’ve also learned that Jesus loves people of all sizes and from all walks of life.
And I love that I’ve learned those things.
And this week, at the risk of taking what I’ve experienced as a simple story and making it much more heady, I want to wrestle with verb tense.
When Jesus was at Zacchaeus’ house and Zacchaeus said, "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," Jesus responded with “Today salvation has come to this house.” (I’m purposely staying away from the “son of Abraham” part right now – since it brings up a different question and I don’t want my mind to wander off just yet. Wait. Where was I?)
Bible-smarty pants people have suggested that Zacchaeus could also have said “"Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I pay back four times as much."
In the first case it sounds like Zacchaeus has had a life-changing experience with Jesus and he decides to change his dishonest ways and make things right. And Jesus responds with joy and celebration.
In the second case, it sounds like Zacchaeus is telling Jesus (not so unlike the way the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14 – last week’s reading did) exactly what he does do. And Jesus responds with joy and celebration.
So I’m just wondering.
If Zacchaeus is talking about his future, and he’s showing faith in Jesus, and because of that faith Jesus calls him a “son of Abraham,” does it mean that this is a radical conversion story about someone who once was lost but now is found?
Or
If Zacchaeus is talking about his present, and he’s been showing faith in Jesus, and because of that faith Jesus calls him a “son of Abraham,” does it mean that this is an extraordinary journey story about someone who is on the journey from lost to found?
And what would really be the difference?
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