Psalm 32 and Luke 19:1-10 are the scriptures for this Sunday.
In Psalm 32, David teaches us that fessing up to our shortcomings is the right thing to do. Furthermore, God rejoices when we fess up and is ready to embrace us! When we let something eat away at us or if we were to wallow in our own guilt and shame, it does strange things to our minds, souls, and bodies. David admits in Psalm 32:3 that even our bones ache!
In Luke 19, Zacchaeus is a collaborator with the Roman Empire. He’s a tax collector. He’s not the tax collector in the modern sense. He gives the Roman government its share, but also charges more to keep for himself. So, he’s a cheating tax collector! But, Jesus sees Zacchaeus for who he really is: A child of God. Jesus looks up into the tree and, with urgency, calls Zacchaeus to come down and invites him for a meal!
Psalm 32 and Luke 19 both point to a loving and compassionate God who sees us for who we really are: Beloved children of God. No matter what we’ve done, big or small, God urges us to fess up. God gives us the faith to place our trust in the LORD. That faith is not blind obedience. No! The faith God give us recognizes our shortcomings and God’s graciousness.
Friends in Christ, believe this Good News!
Christ’s Peace,
Pastor T. Wes Moore