Thirty-Third Sunday after Pentecost Sunday of Zaccheus

Peter H. Davids

Byzantine Catholic Homilies • Sermon • Submitted a year ago

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The best life is a life with peace and joy now and hope of even better for the future. Paul tells Timothy that godliness is what offers such a life, describing it in terms of behavior and giving its sources in the teaching of the Church and the gift of the Spirit. We see this in Zacchaeus who goes from an outcast to a Son of Abraham, from climbing a tree to see Jesus to welcoming him into his home, from an empty life full of stuff to a life of joy and giving. All of this is because he sought out Jesus (who of course responded with grace) and applied his teaching as Lord.

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Optional Ambon Prayer 69

The Holy Apostle Timothy. The Holy Venerable Martyr Anastasius the Persian

Title

Godliness is of Value in Every Way

Outline

What would you tell a person to do if they wanted the best life?

Paul tells Timothy: “Godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”

Why is this true? “We have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.” Our life should correspond to our hope.

How do we do this? For Timothy it meant: “Set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” And he was to get that by focusing on “the public reading of Scripture, to preaching, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have [his ordination]”

There are a lot of people who neglect such teaching and wonder why their lives are going crooked. But let us be clear, if we get doing the things we are doing we will keep getting the results we have been receiving.

Now lets look at Zacchaeus

Luke sets him up as a looser: tax collector, chief tax collector, and rich - even if he were honest, he was ostracized and despised and all his wealth could not make him happy. Jesus had said that the rich cannot enter the kingdom of God - impossible.

He had heard about Jesus and wanted to at least see him, although he had no hope of actually getting close to such a holy man. Jesus stops at the tree he is in and says, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” He is saying, “You have sought me and I accept you. I will accept your hospitality.”

The people are shocked, for Jesus was going to the house of one who was taboo. Zacchaeus ignores the situation, for his reaching out to Jesus in hopeless trust has been the path of God’s grace flowing into his heart. He simply acts on Jesus’ teaching (since Jesus is Lord) and says, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold.”

Jesus looks past his history to his restored identity and points out that God has done the impossible: “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.”

We leave Zacchaeus as a man with joy in the present and hope for the future as he invests his whole life in Jesus

Friends, godliness is of value in every way

Where do we find the way of godliness? In the reading of Scripture, especially the gospels, both public and written (now), the teaching of the Church, and the proclamation of godly people.

What does it look like in this life: gentle and helpful speech, righteous conduct, constant love, even of enemies, robust faith, total purity. Each of these is done by focusing one’s eyes on Jesus, trusting in his grace, and doing all for the love of God.

And what is the result: peace and joy in this life, not that there will be no turmoil around us nor sad things that happen, but that in our core we can face all with inner peace and joy. And then hope, a living hope, for the future, for we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people. We are coming closer and closer in relationship to the Son of Man, who indeed came to seek and save the lost.

Readings

EPISTLE

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 1-29-2023: Thirty-Third Sunday after Pentecost

(32nd Sunday, Slavic)

1 Timothy 4:9–15

9 The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, attend to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you. 15 Practice these duties, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.

GOSPEL

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 1-29-2023: Thirty-Third Sunday after Pentecost

(32nd Sunday, Slavic)

Luke 19:1–10

19 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And there was a man named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector, and rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it they all murmured, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Notes

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 1-29-2023: Thirty-Third Sunday after Pentecost

SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2023 | OCTOECHOS

THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 1-29-2023: Thirty-Third Sunday after Pentecost

Matins Gospel John 21:15–25

Epistle 2 Corinthians 6:16–7:1 (17th Sunday, Greek) or 1 Timothy 4:9–15 (32nd Sunday, Slavic)

Gospel Matthew 15:21–28 (17th Sunday, Greek) or Luke 19:1–10 (32nd Sunday, Slavic)

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