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October 7, 2007
Scripture: Luke 19: 1-10
Title: "Repentance"

As we continue our journey through the Five Finger Exercise of Walter Scott’s, we come to the second word and probably the hardest word for us as Christian to understand, to formulate thoughts on, or even include in our vocabulary. Repentance. We know it is a part of our journey of faith but it is not one that we like to linger on. We know it is part of our church year with the celebration of the season of Lent, but after the 40 days are over, we want the term “repentance” and its props of our liturgical calendar: the ashes, the black cloth, the darkness back into the closet until next year when we revisit the word repentance for 40 days.

Growing up, I remember children’s sermons on the concept of repentance, just not in those words. We would be asked to remember a time when we were sorry for doing something wrong and given a few examples. Maybe we didn’t clean up our room like we had been asked. Or maybe we had hurt someone’s feelings. Or maybe we had broken something like our mom’s favorite lamp. We would feel sorry for those things. And feeling sorry and then making sure we fix what we had done wrong, well, that was repentance. We would all say a little prayer and then go back to our seats for the rest of the church service or go down to children’s church, soon forgetting the church word: Repentance.

As I grew older and I began to understand more abstract ideals, whenever we discussed repentance, it was always paired with the word sin. Two words that I never really liked. It made me uncomfortable to think that I was a sinner who had done horrible things. I thought I am a good person. Repentance was too heavy of a word for me to want to deal with in my spiritual life.

And to be honest, I am sure many of us feel that way. We don’t want to talk about sin and repentance. We don’t want to be reminded of the darkness that exists in our world and that exists in ourselves. We don’t want to be reminded that there is brokenness in our world and that we have been a part of creating that brokenness.

Repentance. It is a very heavy word. But it is a word that we must face and deal with as people of faith who live in a community whose mission is to welcome all of God’s children.

Walter Scott, the man who used the five finger exercise to teach the core values of being a Christian, believed that a person had to have an encounter with the living God through Jesus Christ and experience his message of love and hope before this person could repent. He believed that the person had to have faith in God and experience the grace of God before this person could have the strength and the courage to change their lives as people of faith.

One had to experience faith in Jesus before he or she could change. One had to experience grace before one could repent.

And that is what our Scripture is about today.

Jesus is continuing his journey to Jerusalem and he enters into the town of Jericho. And the crowds start to gather. And Zacchaeus has heard about this man named Jesus. He has heard stories of him healing people. Just the other day, Zacchaeus’ neighbor was telling him about how Jesus had healed someone who was blind. He has heard stories about Jesus’ teachings. He had heard other stories about Jesus’ doing miracles and changing people’s lives. Yes, Zacchaeus has heard about this man and he wants to see who this Jesus really is but the so many people have gathered. He can’t make his way through the crowd. He is going to miss his chance to see who this Jesus really is. Zacchaeus sees a tree and decides to climb up and he waits. He can hear the crowd getting excited. Jesus is coming this way. Zacchaeus sees Jesus and he is not sure exactly what he is feeling. He knows that Jesus has invited tax collectors into his home. He knows that Jesus has welcomed sinners to his table. Is this Jesus guy really for real? Did he really do all of those things that he had heard about? Did this Jesus really change lives?

And all of a sudden, Jesus stops at the base of the tree and looks up. “Zacchaeus, I have been looking all over for you. You are the reason that I have come to Jericho. Come down from that tree. Because I want to break bread with you today. I want to share in the welcome of God with you. I want to stay at your house.”

Zacchaeus takes a moment. Jesus came looking for me. Jesus wants to break bread with me. Jesus wants to come into my house. Surely, he knows who I am. Surely, he knows what I have done in my life. Surely, he knows that I cheated people out of their money. Surely, he knows that I kept a little bit for myself.

All of a sudden, it sinks in. Jesus wants to come to my house. Jesus wants to come into my life.

Zacchaeus scrambles down the tree, and invites Jesus into his home.

We are not told of what happens on the way Zacchaeus’ house or even what happens at the house. All we know is that Zacchaeus had an encounter with the living God through Jesus Christ. All we know is that Zacchaeus experienced the grace of God through faith and now is willingly making right the wrongs he committed in his life. Grace was experienced and Zacchaeus repented.

One experienced faith in Jesus before he or she could change. One experienced grace before one could repent.

Jesus invites Zacchaeus into full relationship with God by offering him grace. Jesus is seeking out one who is a sinner; one who many would agree doesn’t deserve grace because he cheated so many people and offering him grace. Jesus is intentionally seeking Zacchaeus out, not because Jesus condones his behavior, but because Jesus loves and forgives this child of God.

Jesus wants to offer this person who everyone hates, who everyone despises, who everyone has broken ties with, a new chance, and a new life. Jesus is offering the grace of God.

Jesus seeks out this man and invites him to experience the Risen Christ in his life. Jesus is offering him the gift of salvation.

Jesus is offering Zacchaeus a place at God’s table of welcome as a true child of God.

And once seated at that table, the experience is so overwhelming, so moving, so fulfilling that Zacchaeus motivated to change his life. He wants to share this great gift with all that he meets. Zacchaeus is motivated to faithful action. Once at the table of God, he is able to repent, knowing that there is grace, knowing that once he admits his shortcomings and faults, he is able to become an active and participating part of God’s faithful family.

And today, Jesus is offering us the same invitation. We are invited to experience the Risen Christ in our lives, knowing that we have been given the grace of God. And we begin to understand that repentance is not always about the darkness and the brokenness. We begin to understand that repentance is about new life through Jesus Christ.

We began to understand that what matters most in our living as people of faith is an eager and persistent desire to find ourselves in the presence of one who makes us more human ourselves. It matters not how or where we encounter the Risen Lord. What matters is that we do encounter the Risen Lord and that we let that encounter change us, motivate us, and call us into action as God’s people.

When Zacchaeus repents, he is given the gift of salvation. When Zacchaeus repents, he brings salvation to those around him: to the people he wronged, to those who will benefit from his change of life and mercy, to those who knew him before and now experience a new man. The gift of salvation is like ripples through the water, spanning out across the water, touching others, spreading the Good News.

And we are given the same opportunity when we repent. When we repent, it is not because it is a price we have to pay to erase the black marks from the books of our lives. When we repent, it is because we have experience the gifts of grace and of salvation. These gifts move us. These gifts inspire us. The gift of grace and salvation give us the courage to put aside what separates us from a true and full relationship with God.

We have encountered the Risen Christ and have been touched by his grace. We repent because we want a deeper relationship with God.

And when we repent, we bear the fruit of the Gospel: peace, hope, and love. When we repent, we are inspired into faithful action. We began to seek out the wrongs that we have been a part of in our lives and in our world. We begin to seek justice. We begin to invite all to God’s welcome table which holds a savory feast. We begin our joyful work as disciples of Christ through generous hospitality.

When we repent, we bear fruit that will nourish this world and help bring about God’s kingdom of peace and justice.

Today, Jesus has invited us to have an encounter with the Risen Christ. Today, Jesus has offered us the chance to experience the grace of God and to repent. Today, Jesus has offered us the gift of salvation.

Today, Jesus has invited us to God’s table of welcome.

As disciples of Christ, we accept this invitation of faith. As disciples of Christ, we accept this invitation of grace. As disciples of Christ, we accept this gift of salvation.

Today, we repent of our sins. Today, we repent of all that separates us from our God. Today, we repent of all of wrongs that we have done in this world and in our lives.

Today, we repent and watch the ripples of grace move through our community. Today, we repent and enter into a deeper relationship with God. Today, we repent and see the beginnings of God’s Kingdom coming to life through the fruits of the Gospel.

Today, may we repent and be moved into action as disciples of Christ. Amen.

Rev. Heather McColl
Midway Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

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