I was taking Nathan to school on Thursday when he asked me a question as we were walking to the car, “are you going to walk me to the back of the school?” As I was deciding, he said that I could decide today and when I said I would walk him to the back, he said he wanted to decide instead. He didn’t want me to walk him back to the line of kindergarten kids. On that first day when he was shy, I hoped that he would adjust to school being a little shy. It was a legacy that came true when he told me to stay at the car when he went to go get in line. As I reflected with joy and melancholy later, it hit me that it was All Saints Day on Thursday. My own mother left a legacy with her passing four weeks ago.
All Saints Day is always November 1st and it’s the day we remember all those who in the car as we go off to the playground of life, learning and growing with those in our class and school of life. Today is the day we commemorate it on the first Sunday after that day. We remember all the loved ones who have died and now rest from their labors. This is a legacy that has passed down to us, for we have been invited off of the branches like Zacchaeus to go and dine with Christ.
Zacchaeus knew what he was and he would learn whose he was. So I want to ask all those who know what they are and consider themselves a SINNER to please stand up at this time. That includes everyone, so don’t elbow anybody next to you. We know we are a sinner as we think about the fact that we went from spending 3 billion dollars two years ago to spending 5 billion dollars this year on Halloween, myself included. Now I want everyone who considers themselves a SAINT to please sit down and that means you too, so don’t be surprised as to who is sitting.
We know what we are, like Zacchaeus we are the chief tax collectors who know there is something missing. We are going out on the limb to find it and he has found us. Jesus stopped by that tree and told Zacchaeus he was going to eat at his house. This story is one with a Sunday School legacy, as I remember singing this song: “Zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he. He climbed up in the sycamore tree for the lord he wanted to see. And as the savior passed his way, he looked up in the tree, and he said, “Zacchaeus, you come down; for I’m going to your house today. Yes I’m going to your house today.
We know that we are a sinner like Zacchaeus and we are saints because Jesus has invited us down to dine. We have a legacy of daily renewal where you are bestowed sainthood because of whose you are as children of God. This legacy is overflowing, as when Psalm 23:6 states, “My cup runneth over” (have everyone say that a few times). The cup isn’t have full or half empty so we don’t have to worry about either being an optimist or pessimist. Our cups are overflowing with grace.
We have been given this legacy by Christ and it is not one of earned mercy. Zacchaeus responds to Jesus by being generous and leaving a legacy of kindness to others.
We have been given a legacy here at Living Waters fifteen years ago that is a gift today to us. The ELCA paid most everything the first three years to help this faith community get started and Pastor Heaney knocked on doors and invited people on a journey. There are people who are not here anymore because they rest eternally from their labors.
The LEGACY we have received we are passing on. Imagine what this community of faith will look like in another fifteen years, in the year 2022! What will they say bout us and the next few critical years of mission and ministry here in this place? Will they be able to say that those people stepped up and committed themselves to leaving a great legacy? Imagine the three or four year olds here at worship who will graduate from high school, like my daughter. There will be people here who will not be with us on that date. What will be our legacy?
Gracious God, you have invited us to eat with you and have left us a legacy of grace and mercy. Guide us in this journey during the next fifteen years as you call us to live into a legacy of mission and ministry, in Jesus name. Amen
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