Notice

Charlotte Collins Reed
Christ Church Episcopal
October 30, 2022

26 Proper C 

          In our family, we have a running joke about my father-in-law, Don’s dad.  If anyone says “Would you like to go…,” Fred has his shoes on and is out the door before we finish the sentence.  Fred has always loved to go and will still go anywhere, anytime.  When we lived in Springfield, Ohio, where Fred still lives, he would go with me to out of town evening meetings, or to our cottage on the Ohio River.  The one time he rethought his willingness to go anyplace anytime with me was the time he found himself at Ikea, the massive home furnishings store.  That was a stretch even for Fred!

          The thing about traveling with Fred is that he notices everything.  One evening we were taking back roads from Springfield to Columbus, which is largely farm country.  I was very focused on not getting lost as this was before I had gps in my car.  Fred was noticing the cows, the make and model of the cows, wondering about the farm and how many acres it was, where the water supply was, and how the farmer was doing.  On another trip, this one down highway 68 to the Ohio River, while I am wondering if there is a speed trap in the next small town, Fred is noticing all the John Deere tractor stores along the way, wondering who is buying all these tractors, what their farms are like, noticing the size of the store we are currently passing compared with the one we passed a few miles back.  The only thing we both noticed was the large sign saying “Homemade Amish Baked Goods.”

          This morning, we hear the story of Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus.  Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector, so likely very good at extorting money from the people, thus very wealthy and very unpopular with the people.  Zacchaeus wants to see Jesus, so he climbs a tree to get a better view.  Jesus notices Zacchaeus and calls him to come down from the tree so he can stay at Zacchaeus’ house.  Jesus is going to stay, and presumably dine, with a tax collector, a despised and notorious sinner.  This is hardly the first time Jesus has taken up the cause of a tax collector having called one as a disciple and having just last week held up the faith of a tax collector.  Zacchaeus’s life is transformed by the encounter with Jesus, and he amends his life, bringing salvation to his house. 

          Jesus noticed Zacchaeus.  Not only did Jesus notice Zacchaeus, but Jesus also stopped and engaged the tax collector.  Jesus could have simply seen the grown man in the tree and moved on, but he did not.  In the reading from Isaiah, the prophet calls the people to notice those in need of justice, the oppressed, the orphan and the widow, and to do something about their plight.  God is tired of empty sacrifices and rituals that do not lead to the transformation of people’s lives.   Those sacrifices and rituals are worthless to God unless they are accompanied by action that transforms human life and suffering. 

          In the lovely and encouraging reading from 2 Thessalonians, Paul and his companions notice the faith and steadfastness of the church in Thessalonica in the midst of persecution and affliction.  They see the deep love the Thessalonians have for one another.  Paul prays for the Thessalonians.  The persecuted Thessalonians feel seen and encouraged by the words and action of Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy and they know that their work for the gospel matters.

          In the Episcopal Church, at every baptism, we promise to seek and serve Christ in all people.  In order to do that, we are called to notice people, to really see them, and not just pass by.  Look around for a moment.  Notice who is here that you have not met yet.  If you have been at Christ Church a while, notice who is not here.  Out in the world around us, notice the person who has gone above and beyond for you and offer a word of thanks, or the person who seems overwhelmed and need of encouragement, or who is alone and in need of friendship.  Notice and then act, because noticing is not enough.  In Isaiah, God calls the people to “seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.”  We are called to notice the oppressed, the orphan, and the widow, metaphorical or literal, then God calls us to act whether with a simple action in the moment like Jesus did with Zacchaeus, or with an encouraging word like Paul offered the Thessalonians, or with work for systemic change as when Isaiah calls the people to seek justice and transform society.   When we notice with the curiosity of Fred and respond with the compassion of Jesus, the transforming love of God, working through us, will change lives and change the world. 

                                                                                      Amen.