Daily Devotional for June 13

 

June 13                                                            Luke 19:1-10

Zacchaeus knew how to live. He had taken advantage of
Roman rule to further his political and financial career. Yes,
he was born a Jew, but since the Romans were going to be
in power anyway, why not play the game by their rules? By
collecting the Roman taxes from his people for them, he could
gain favor with the government and get the "perks" he
wanted.

Zacchaeus felt no need to make a choice between the God of
his people and the gods of the Roman empire. He shaped his
ethical behavior to conform to the political situation of his
day. When Jesus came to his town, he was curious, of course.
Who wouldn't be? But curiosity may have been all that
prompted Zacchaeus to climb that tree.

Sometimes I find myself acting like Zacchaeus. I watch the
parade of life going by from the safety of my tree. Seeing
unemployment, starvation, drugs, and homelessness, I feel
saddened, but I go on collecting the perquisites of the system
which oppresses. I deafen myself to the call of Jesus to feed
the hungry, heal the sick, house the homeless.

I wonder what it would be like to just once stand up for God
as if I really believed that God would want me to get involved.
What if Christ called me down from my tree and bade me serve
Christ as my house guest?

Imagine yourself this day being called by Christ to come down
from your tree to escort Christ through your life. What would
you want to throw out before Jesus arrived at your door? What
would you save? Where do your allegiances lie? Could you
choose sides?

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From The Road to Emmaus - An inclusive devotional Edited by Joseph W. Houle

Emmaus House of Prayer - Washington D.C.