COME FOLLOW ME

Outcasts - shame to fame!

Whilst Jesus passed through the presbyteral town of Jericho, he saw an envied rich man who was the leading tax official hoisting himself up on a sycamore tree out of sight so that he could get a glimpse of the Lord. Lk 19: 1-4 – [abbreviated].

This week being the last in ordinary time before we enter into the TRIODION which are the three preparatory weeks before Great Lent, we are presented with the story of Matthew the Apostle known formally as Zacchaeus (however debatable)! Although to the disgust of the rigorous observers of religion - the Lord’s desire to choose the insignificant, marginalised and shunned is for the simple reason that one can’t lead without knowing rejection, pain, suffering, the harsh realities of life, and the currents of social conformities is a constant theme in the gospels.

Further, when we can’t think outside the box so to speak/write and become slaves of the institution (letter of the law) God can’t use us because we are not efficiently minded – we object if confronted with the very image we try to run away from (ourselves)! The remarkable miracle of the incarnation calls us to come as we are, and respond to his call by the very uniqueness he has blessed us with in order to reach out onto likeminded others so that salvation “the incarnation” can click with anyone who desires him!

Here we have a son of Abraham – in other words, a Jew who should be everything that makes the nation tick. Yet, the problem is that (a) he has defied himself by interacting with non-Jews (b) He is a friend of the enemy who use him in gaining prestige (c) he is against his people because he bleeds them dry with tax collection. Yes, nothing changes and we are all stung (working clergy included) but we must render onto Caesar yet never compromise rendering to God!!!

The problem here was duplicity – yes, they all knew the law (scripture) very well, yet they twisted it to be convenient – no different from when they tried to stone the adulterer and then Jesus put them to the wall by that classic phrase: “If you have no sin then you may cast your stone onto her!” Thus, the Lord who is mercy personified (he who reaches out) comes to call those who the supposed keepers of the faith (the religious nuts “clergy and lay” block such faithful hearts (because they don’t fit their regimented and ridiculous criteria) into pursuing their spiritual journey towards God!

Thus, the Lord turned to him and said: “Zacchaeus, come and greet me for I desire to be your guest!” At an instant and overcome with joy, he made haste and came to welcome the Lord. Lk 19: 5-6

Years ago I was blessed to hear a sermon on the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman St. Photini (Claire) although we read that the Samaritans and Jews were not in good terms with each other (like the Greeks and Macedonians, Russians and Ukrainians etc.) The Lord is the Rabbi (the teacher) who must separate gracefully the kindergarten kids (the nations/people at odds) who think they are so important and more so than the other. Thus, he sends the apostles away to get food so he could not only make time for the Samaritan woman, but add no further grief onto her; people shunned her due to her imperfections fuelled by the empty well of her soul.

Thus, he didn’t talk at her, nor did he talk above her, but he talked with her and asked her to respond to his invitation; never intrusive, but in actual fact, he rendered her with the illumination that she is worth more than what she thinks, and has been made to believe such via the derogatory of others! Likewise, he extends that same invitation on to the Evangelist (Matthew) too because he knew exactly how hard it is to be accepted. Truly, such an acceptance came at a price – the price of life itself and on home front: your own people/family may be the very ones that let you down as was the case with the nation the Messiah came to visit.

The crowd then complained at such an invitation for they were observers of the law; thus, classified Zacchaeus to be a sinner for complying with the empirical system which disqualified him in their eyes. Lk 19: 7

Next week as the first week of the Triodion (preparation period for Great Lent) Jesus presents us with the parable (story of Matthew) as the publican who comes to the temple for prayer. He (Matt) knew that the religious fanatics detested him and condemned him amongst the dammed. This of course adds to one’s inner grief and can damage one psychologically if the notion of the spiritual reality of the Love of God does not rise above such heretical stupidities that such religious nutters pedal.

Yet, the religious nutter known as the Pharisee makes a theatrical spectacle of his version of prayer; thus adds in a loud voice so that Matt could hear him with the opportunity to shame him more especially in public: “I thank you Lord that I am far from that tax collector who defiles thy presence, for I observe all that is commanded by the Law of Moses!”

When I was a deacon in the Russian church, there were very well off ladies and one in particular who had a false humility – just because she washed a few dishes after the agape’ (fellowship in the hall) she puffed up when one commented on how hard she worked. Then she (the lady said) oh this is white martyrdom (a notion given to people who put up with all sorts of things) I was more inclined to think she was worried about her painted nails now showing signs of so called hard work!

At that, the publican stands with his head down in shame, and his mind must have been filled with all sorts of condemnatory thoughts – anyone who has feelings would just cave in and perhaps want to disappear there and then. Yet Matt just utters two words: “Have mercy on me” in other words: “Please help me!” It is interesting to note that the name Zacchaeus signifies innocence….yet this innocence was tarnished by the thoughts and sentiments of very shallow people who thought to be pure in the eyes of God!

Then Zacchaeus was given grace before the presence of the Lord and wholeheartedly stated: “I desire to give much of my goods to the poor who have nothing, and further if I was compelled by the law to excerpt from people under false pretences - I now wish to make amends and restore it four times as much!” Lk 19: 8

False pretences…..conversion is a grace given by God in order to make you aware of who you are, what you have become, where you are, what you are doing, and where you should be! The greatest lie of all times is when we lie to ourselves by serving that which may be the means of earthly comfort, but this is destroying us spiritually and forcing us to become something that we are not!!!

Yet, only a hand full of individuals broke the mould….although after some time others came to follow them: yet, things tend to go back to square one – the institutional mould! I am not saying we are not to have a church with law and order, but what I am saying is that we have become something totally other. This of course allows nasty and perverted individuals (they don’t want to be outed so they make it their business to try and out others before others do them in) who thrive on suppressing others (because they know they are very unclean) via their rigorous observances to derail the function of the Church which should leap out of its comfort zones and go to those who are in darkness due to all sorts of reasons.

The greatest tragedy is that those who supposedly administer in His Name are the greatest freaks who have not understood the purpose of the Incarnation (although they may understand the theory of theology) yet they are doctors without medicine (useless)! Furthermore, when a few fanatics gather to wave Greek or other national flags within the context of Church – these freaks are the pollution which has tainted the innocence of what the Church should be – a light to enlighten all people and the Glory of God in his Saints!

This coming Friday we will remember a champion of monasticism who learnt to let go and seek God in the wilderness of his very soul: St Anthony the Great also known as Abbot in the west. Anthony, his companion and brother monastic Paul, and those who developed their legacy known as the Desert Fathers came to the fullness of METANOIA (a total change of mind and heart) - the pursuit of struggle in acquiring divine grace in order to commune with God via the peace he alone can give!

Many Christians begin to gradually prepare for the Great Fast before Easter – a time to let go by giving up certain foods. This of course is a good way of inclining (synchronising) the body with the soul, yet we are also made of spirit and as the Lord himself exhorted: “It is not what you place in your mouth that defiles you, but what comes out of your mouth that renders you unclean!” (Mat15:11) In other words, we need to concentrate not on GIVING UP but TAKING UP – words, actions, habits, derogatoriness, a time to consider completing things we have left undone!

As the springtime of the soul approaches, let us then enter into the garden of our hearts and tear away the weeds that has covered the path we have left untended to. Let us then aspire to such duties with the spirit of good labour that the Desert Fathers’ have left us, so that we may have a renewed sense of direction via the Grace of God and their example. Hence, the call in lending a hand onto others that are struggling through the dim untended path of their life with the certainty of hope that the Lord will illumine our way and theirs through our desire to put things right (Ps 119:105)  

Let us turn to the Mother of God who bore him (Jesus) into the world, nursed him, and tended onto him through her obedience onto his will as all blessed among women: “Holy Mother, you who are the New Eve who delivered the world from evil by bringing forth the Son of the Most High in your womb, intercede onto the Lord the NEW ADAM who is the Salvation of Souls to renew in us the call of discipleship – maturing in us the desire of communion which binds us totally and wholeheartedly to him. Amen!”

The Lord then marvelled and exhorted: “Salvation has visited you this day for you truly are a son of Abraham – I who am the Son of Man came to claim that which was lost and restore such to the fold given me!” Lk 19: 9-10