Ancient of Days and Author of the Future, teach us the art of redemption. Loosen the bonds of the past from our imagination for the future. Give us such hope for the future, especially the future of the worst and the darkest, that we become prophets of possibility and joy. Make us ever ready to give someone another chance. We ask it in the name of the Risen One, Jesus Christ!

Emrys Tyler

Ripe for Redemption

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “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.” Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”

~ the Gospel According to Luke, Chapter 19, verses 1 to 10, from The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. 1989, Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers. (Revised Common Lectionary, Proper 26, 30 October 2016.)

In a state where I used to live, those convicted of a sexual offence are placed on a registry. Those persons may not live within a certain radius of locations where children congregate. And whenever those persons move to a new address, law enforcement sends out notices to all residents within wide geographic bounds, publicizing the name, photograph, and address of the convicted, and the crime which landed the offender on the registry.

I want our society to protect its children. I want criminal offenders to face the consequences of their choices and correct their behaviors. And I want our society to be capable of forgiveness and redemption.

I received a notice about a registered offender who had satisfied all legal consequences for a single offense—over thirty years ago. For over thirty years this person had lived free of criminal activity, but still with the stamp of a second-class citizen who garnered constant suspicion from society. What does it take for society to consider someone truly redeemed?

Jesus presses this very question upon us by going to the house of Zacchaeus. This wealthy tax collector—someone who had taken money from his own people (the Jews) to pad his pockets and enrich the enemy (the Romans)—was a categorical “sinner.” There’s no doubt—he’s convicted. “All who saw it” say so.

Zacchaeus seems to prove his redemption in the face of the contemptuous crowd: he offers tangible signs of his repentance. Jesus offers a confirmation: “Today salvation has come to this house!” But remember, Jesus was the one who made the first move: Jesus invited himself over to Zacchaeus’ house. And his summary declaration, “because he too is a son of Abraham,” refers not to what Zacchaeus had said or done but instead refers to what Jesus knew Zacchaeus to be. We might well imagine that even Zacchaeus did not know that he was ripe for redemption until Jesus called him. Jesus saw Zacchaeus in the light of grace, even before Zacchaeus had a chance to respond.

The Son of Man did not come to confirm those who had been found; he came “to seek and to save the lost” (see also Luke 5:27-32). Jesus committed himself to Zacchaeus’ redemption before Zacchaeus knew he was redeemed; the crowd might never see Zacchaeus as anything but a sinner.

What kind of eyes do you and your church have for the world? Do you take comfort in categories that keep people out of the royalty of grace? Or do you anticipate the redemption of even the darkest characters—and then have a meal with them?

Ancient of Days and Author of the Future, teach us the art of redemption. Loosen the bonds of the past from our imagination for the future. Give us such hope for the future, especially the future of the worst and the darkest, that we become prophets of possibility and joy. Make us ever ready to give someone another chance. We ask it in the name of the Risen One, Jesus Christ!

~ emrys tyler

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