[Mcgregorpage] McGregorPage #581, Pentecost 23, 11/4/07

[rmcgregoralbq at aol.com]

Pentecost 23 – November 4, 2007


Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4
Psalm 119:137-144
2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12
Luke 19:1-10


Ain’t It Awful, Or Maybe Not

Are we out of control? The human community, that is. Try on Habakkuk’s 
description of the arrogant nation. Does it fit? What powerful nation 
doesn’t it fit? It fits our national friends and enemies alike. Try on 
the role of the aggrieved nation waiting on God to intervene. Waiting 
for God to intervene is not a national policy for anyone, friend or 
foe, but God will intervene nevertheless. When? How?

Robert Frost wrote, “Something there is that doesn’t like a wall.” 
Likewise, something there is that doesn’t like the arrogance of power. 
It may work slowly like the elements weakening a wall of stacked stone 
in New Hampshire, weakening it until it falls. Something there is in 
the warp and woof of the universe and Habakkuk knows who. Paul appeals 
to that same inescapable force for justice in the world as he counsels 
the church in Thessalonica. But, does this add up to control in our 
lifetime? Is this finally any comfort? Both Habakkuk and Paul add an 
immediate dimension to God’s control.

The righteous must finally live by faith. That is the control present 
and personal.

Zacchaeus’ life was out of control. He had a license to steal. He had 
the Roman guard for protection. But he wasn’t sleeping nights. 
Something there is that doesn’t like the way Zacchaeus lived. The world 
around him raged out of control, and something inside him was out of 
control. He was up a tree. That’s why Jesus saw him and offered him the 
option of control.

Did Jesus offer him his life back by lecturing him all the way from the 
tree to the dinner table, telling him all the things he would have to 
change to take charge of his live? I doubt it. Instead, the love of God 
took charge of Zacchaeus. Since he was a traitor to his people, he 
couldn’t take a sacrifice to the temple and have the priest sprinkle 
blood on him and tell him he was back under God’s control, God’s 
blessing. He was stuck unless God’s actual love drew him out. Once 
God’s love ruled and Zacchaeus saw the vision of being in control by 
virtue of God’s control, he took charge. “Behold the half of my goods I 
give to the poor.” (His wife nearly fainted.) The world hadn’t changed, 
but he had, and because he had, the world had. Glory be.


May these thoughts strengthen you.

An Open Letter to Fellow Pastors
>From Roland McGregor, United Methodist Pastor
(an e-mail service)

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