Sycamore Tree

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Sycamore Tree

Zacchaeus     Abraham Descendant

Seeking     Running     Climbing

Clear Vision of Jesus

Conversion

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture: Luke 19:1 to 10

Jesus was approaching Jericho with the intention of passing through the town on His journey. 

There was a wealthy man in that town named Zacchaeus who was one of the main tax collectors. He really wanted to see Jesus but he was very short, and he could not get a clear look at Jesus because of the huge crowd.

He decided to climb up a large sycamore tree to get a better look at Jesus. 

When Jesus was passing by, He looked up and saw Zacchaeus in the tree. He said, "Come down now, Zacchaeus, because today I will stay at your house."

Zacchaeus came down as quickly as he could and brought Jesus to his house with great joy.

Some people were very upset with this and said, "Jesus is going to stay in the house of a sinner."

Zacchaeus said, "I have decided to give half of my possessions to the poor. If I have taken any money from someone illegally, I will make sure that person gets four times as much back."

Jesus said, "Today God's gift of salvation has come to this house. He is a descendant of Abraham. The Son of Man has come here to bring healing to those who have lost their way."

Reflection

Zacchaeus could not see Jesus. 

He was too small.

It can be so hard to see Jesus sometimes.

Our world, our vision can be too small to recognize His presence.

We need to make the effort that Zacchaeus made. We need to change our perspective. 

It is easy to get lost in the crowd. To follow along. We don't want to stand out. We don't want to be different.

Jesus looks into the eyes of Zacchaeus. This encounter was not on the schedule. Jesus intended just to pass through Jericho. There was no plan for a visit.

Jesus does not always stick to the agenda. He recognizes something special in Zacchaeus. He knows that he wants more in life and is not satisfied with his wealth, power, and position. 

Jesus has exactly what Zacchaeus is looking for--salvation, healing, good news.

We are challenged by this reading to go and find our own sycamore trees so that we can get a good look at Jesus.

It's tree climbing time!

1. Why is it so hard to see Jesus sometimes?

2. How do you try to enlarge your vision of Jesus?

3. Where will you find the sycamore tree that you need to climb?

4. What do you see as you reflect on Kathy's photo?

(scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara) 

Parable

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Parable

Pharisee     Tax Collector

Prayer     Exalting     Humbling

Have Mercy On Me

Justification

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Jesus directed this parable at people who were sure that they were right and looked down on everyone else.

"Two people were going to pray at the Temple. One was a Pharisee and the second was a tax collector.

The Pharisee prayed in this way: 'O God I thank you that I am not like all the other people. They are liars, adulterers, and greedy people. They are just like this tax collector. I fast frequently, and I pay tithes on my entire income.'

The tax collector stood off in the distance. He kept his eyes down and beat his chest. He prayed, 'O God, please show mercy on me. I am a sinner.'

It was the tax collector who went home justified, not the Pharisee. If you exalt yourself, you will be humbled. If you humble yourself, you will be exalted."

Reflection

Humility.

It is a challenging virtue.

Jesus admires the honesty of the tax collector who was very direct in asking for God's mercy. 

Tax collectors were looked down upon in the time of Jesus. Many became wealthy and used harsh tactics to collect the taxes for the Roman Empire.

They were hated by the people. It was easy to look down upon them.

I am sure that those who heard this parable were not happy with Jesus. The Pharisees were respected. They led the people in the renewal of their faith. 

How could Jesus possibly exalt the tax collector over the Pharisee in His parable? 

Jesus is stressing the importance of being totally honest with God. 

The tax collector turns to God for mercy. The Pharisee is telling God how good he is.

It can certainly be true that the Pharisee does all those religious practices. He might fast frequently and give tithes. Those are good practices.

The Pharisee in this parable, though, becomes very judgmental. He is telling God how much better he is than everyone else. He is exalting himself.

The prayer of the tax collector is a simple one. He admits that he is a sinner and asks for mercy. 

Jesus is telling us that God's mercy is there for all of us. All we have to do is ask for it honestly.

It is God's mercy that exalts us and fill us with Peace.

1. Do you relate more to the Pharisee or to the tax collector in this parable?

2. How would you define humility?

3. How do you try to overcome the tendency we all have to be judgmental?

4. What does Kathy's photo say to you?   

Widow

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Widow

Persistent     Faithful

Hand-Raised     Staff     Unceasingly

Pray Never Lose Heart

Justice

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scriptures:   Exodus 17: 8-13

Amalek came to wage a battle against the Israelites. Moses told Joshua to pick out some special men and to fight against the forces of Amalek. Moses would be standing on top of a hill near the battle and he told Joshua that he would have the staff of God in his hand.

 

During the battle when Moses had his hands raised up the battle went well for the forces of Joshua.

However, as soon a Moses dropped his hands the battle went poorly.

The men with Moses observed this and so they put a rock by Moses that he could sit on and Aaron and Hur supported his hands.

Joshua and his men won the battle decisively. 

Luke 18:1 to 8

Jesus was teaching about the importance of praying and not giving up. He told a story about a judge who had no respect for God or people. 

A widow from that town came to him and asked for justice.

The judge was not willing to help the widow. Eventually he realized that if he did not help this woman that she might strike him. He delivered a just decision for her.

Jesus pointed out that we should look what this dishonest judge says. God will certainly honor the cries of those who reach out to God day and night. 

Jesus said, "Will God be slow to answer their prayers?"

Reflection

It is hard to persevere!

In our reading from Exodus Moses is very well intentioned. He wants to support Joshua in his battle, but he gets tired.

We can all relate to situations like that. We start out with great intentions and then we get distracted, lose interest, and our project fails.

Moses, however, is surrounded by a wonderful community of friends who support him. They help him to stick with it and Joshua succeeds in the battle.

In our reading from Luke the widow does not give up in her quest for justice. She gets the attention of a dishonest judge, and he eventually decides in her favor.

Jesus tells us that we should have the same persistence in our prayer. God will certainly listen to us. 

Moses and this widow can be great examples for us when we feel like giving up. We can continue to put our trust in God and realize that God will always listen. 

Our efforts to establish justice can be very frustrating at times. Like the widow whom Jesus praises, we can wonder if true justice will ever come.

As we persevere and also allow ourselves to be helped by others as Moses was, hearts can be softened, ears can be opened, and justice can come.

God is listening!

1. Do you find it hard to persevere in your prayer?

2. How has the community helped you to remain faithful?

3. What are the areas where you would like to see justice come?

4. What strikes you as you contemplate Kathy's picture?

(scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)

 

One

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

One

Marginalized     Samaritan

Pitied     Cleansed     Healed

Where Are the Other Nine?

Returned

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Luke 17:11 to 19

While Jesus was on His journey to Jerusalem, he was going through Samaria and Galilee. As He was coming into a town, ten lepers met Him.

They kept their distance from Him but shouted out, "Jesus, Master! Show pity towards us!"

When Jesus looked in their direction, He said, "Go and make yourselves known to the priests."

As they were heading to do what Jesus had asked, they were all cleansed.

One of the lepers who was aware that he was healed, came back to find Jesus. He praised God in a loud voice and fell down at the feet of Jesus. 

He thanked Jesus.

He was a Samaritan.

Jesus spoke to him and said, "Ten were healed. Where are the others? Why is it that the only one who gave thanks to God is this foreigner?"

Jesus said to him, "Stand up and continue on your way. It is your faith that has healed you."

Reflection

One returned out of ten. Not a good success rate!

This one however teaches us about the meaning of faith. He realizes that Jesus is a healer. He knows that Jesus is close to God. 

He does not wait for the other nine. We don't know if they came later or if they just went on their way to the priests and did not acknowledge Jesus. 

This one knows who has the power to heal. He recognizes how special Jesus is.

We are moved here by the compassion of Jesus. He sees the ten suffering and His heart is touched. 

He does not make a big display of His compassion but simply instructs these ten who have been in distress to go to the priests and to fulfill the laws with regard to healing from leprosy.

These ten have been excluded from community by virtue of their illness and now they can return to their families and friends.

We can all relate to this situation because of the trials we have suffered (and still are suffering) due to the COVID pandemic. We know the isolation and the frustration of not being able to meet with others and to celebrate with our families.

These ten reach out to Jesus to ask His help in restoring them to their friends and families---to give them their lives back.

One of them returns to give thanks and models for us the gratitude that we should show for all the Blessings we have been given. He does not take his healing for granted but keeps his eyes on the Healer.

Thank you, Jesus!

1. Why do you think only one returned?

2. How have you been dealing with the isolation and fear that the pandemic has caused?

3. What are the Blessings that you are most grateful for?

4. What do you feel as you look at Kathy's photo?