Guess who’s coming to dinner!

“Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today” (Lk 19:5).

What an honor! Think of it!

I clambered down the tree, rushed home and alerted the family. We hurriedly cleaned up the house, took out the best dishes and cutlery, picked up a bottle of wine and went to work cooking our favorite dinner.

The guest was delayed. Many wanted to talk to him … wanting to know whether he had any run-ins with the government or the police (he did, with both!) and whether he felt safe in these surroundings. Safe? Well, he felt safe in the hands of God, but he was sure that the authorities would track him down, arrest him and …

Might he get deported? He was hoping not, since a prophet is not welcome in his home country. He thought he stood a better chance of getting justice here than in his homeland, but … “Your country is very quick to deport people,” he said. We know. Just the other day … a young man from Myanmar …

Prayer

We prayed (and still pray): “God, open our hearts to hear and to respond to the manyfold hunger in the land.”

“… some have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Hb 13:2)

“… as you did it to one of the least of these … you did it to me.” (Mt 25:40)

Source: lutheranworld.org