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.’ Luke 19 : 5
Readings this week Isaiah 1 : 10 – 18 , 2; Thessalonians 1; Luke 19 : 1 – 10
Some thoughts for this week
Our Gospel reading today features the encounter between Jesus and Zaccheus, the tax – collector.
Just as Jesus looks up into Zaccheus’ tree, and calls to him, Jesus reaches out to each of us, to show we are loved, called, invited. Called to open our homes, our lives, even the deepest parts of ourselves to Jesus’ healing and His love. Zaccheus’ life was turned around not through fear, but through grace, through mercy and acceptance.
Today is our shoebox Sunday. It is inspiring to be able to put the shoeboxes together, and know they will be put into people’s hands whose lives are so much harder than our own. Maybe they feel forgotten, isolated, unloved. We pray the shoeboxes will make them know they are loved by Jesus. That He reaches out to them.
Jesus’ love has no limits, no boundaries. Noone is excluded, set apart, isolated from the Lord’s love. Jesus tells Zaccheus to ‘hurry’. We are all so good at putting things off, delaying, postponing. Jesus’ love is now, for today. Let us hurry to ‘get right’ with God. To receive His healing and forgiveness. To open our hearts to Him. Let’s not delay.
Rev Paul
Prayer for this week
Almighty and eternal God, you have kindled the flame of love in the hearts of the saints: grant to us the same faith and power of love, that, as we rejoice in their triumphs, we may be sustained by their example and fellowship; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
God of glory, touch our lips with the fire of your Spirit, that we with all creation may rejoice to sing your praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
We praise the Lord and give thanks for…
His grace, love and mercy freely given today.
For all the shoeboxes, and all those taking part in the appeal, including the schools
At All Saints, our partnerships with other churches