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Why did Jesus choose to dine with the enemy of the people, that greedy, grasping tax collector, Zacchaeus?  I’m sure Jesus would have been considered the most coveted of dinner guests by any one of his more influential followers.  Many people believe Zacchaeus was chosen to exemplify Jesus’ mercy to  sinners.  Well, that certainly was the case, but it could be so much
more. 

Have you ever thought about the fact that Zacchaeus’ conversion brought justice to all those he had oppressed in the past and hope for a much better future for all in that area!

This text relates directly to the positive results that can be gained by reaching out to the enemy.  I believe, of critical importance in our world, this text should play a pivotal role not only in our relations with others on a personal level, but, of most importance, in a country’s foreign policy on negotiations. 

It caused a fair amount of uproar when President Obama said he would meet with all the leaders of those countries that had been labeled evil by the previous administration.  His response was that somehow the idea that not talking to countries is a punishment, which was a guiding diplomatic principle of the previous party in office, was ridiculous.

What would it have profited the people of Jericho if Jesus had ignored or condemned Zacchaeus? 

It certainly appears one of the fundamental tenets of relationships is that talking to government leaders, business leaders, your friends, whomever, is in fact a viable solution, or at least a logical step, in resolving seemingly intractable conflicts.

One would think there has to be some logic in the “no talk” policy that some politicians advocate.  It seems like the easy answer is that there are times when you should not talk, times when you should not negotiate with your adversary, and when silence (or other action) is the best option.  Yet, what could it possibly be other than the need to claim superiority and the willingness to suffer the consequences for that attitude?  Or fear of revealing participation in political situations that contributed to the conflict…..or , God forbid, a method for defense profits that could be made from those conflicts? 

Or could it be that fears about rationality underlie the positions held by those in the supposed “no talking” school of foreign policy? Did we not negotiate with North Korea because we believed ourselves to be rational and they to be irrational and unpredictable?  Aren’t we doing the same thing with Iran?  Even with fear of an adversary’s irrationality in place, the choice of an approach involving a flat-out refusal to talk seems like it is in effect, for lack of a better phrase, letting the fear win.

The Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations taking place now has produced no apparent breakthrough yet. Once again, the world waits in hope!  And once again we fear it’s just another failed effort for peace between them.  But at least they are talking!  Both sides said they are striving toward their goal of a final settlement.  And the best news:  They are not killing each other in an all out war. 

Read more: http://www.thirdage.com/news/mideast-peace-talks-are-inconclusive-clinton-moves-speak-president-mahmoud-abbas_9-16-2010#ixzz0zylHLoCs

For a lighter moment……A very funny Australian video on “negotiate.”  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49zF8m7ys24

The story of Zacchaeus  in a delightful cartoon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONmBtgkP8jU

The Zacchaeus song with words:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONRxHcjvCM4

The lesson to be learned from this text today is not just for our leaders and the greater picture of war and peace.  We should wake up to our duty to become more informed citizens.

“Any religion that professes to be concerned about the souls of men and not concerned about the city government that damns the soul, the economic conditions that corrupt the soul, the slum conditions, the social evils that cripple the soul, is a dry, dead, do-nothing religion in need of new blood.”
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

What about your congregation……?  Are they concerned about the ever growing cycle of wars?  The ever widening gap between the rich and the poor?  The greed that has grown to such an extent that it has overwhelmed our society’s sense of right and wrong? 

Are any of your members concerned about the cycle of silent hate that might have taken up residence in their souls?  Do they talk to the Zacchaeus in their lives? 

I know that silence and distance are far more pernicious than head-on engagement. Confronting issues as they arise helps ensure that there is no unclaimed baggage between friends and family.  Whatever the length of unresolved matters, the best response is to approach and talk rather than flee, isn’t it? 

I was very happy to welcome a new visitor (Call her Mary) one Sunday morning at my church and see her return week after week.  But, when I called a member who had been missing from attendance for some time, I learned she would not come to church if Mary was there.  “Haven’t spoken to her in over 10 years and not going to start now!” she explained. 

Jesus had every right to condemn or at the very least ignore Zacchaeus, but he didn’t.  What is your responsibility as a pastor to teach this Sunday.   Think about it!