The Sycamore Tree

 

Luke 19:1-7

He entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.”

Sycamore trees seem to attract attention

and divided opinions

From the folk who grumbled

that Jesus called Zacchaeus out of the branches of a sycamore

so that a man they deemed “less than”

could enjoy the company of the prophet - 

To those incensed today at the destruction

of an instagrammable icon now lost forever.

And while our focus is on condemnation,

we lose sight of all that we ordinarily tolerate

The swathes of trees destroyed for profit

The habitats lost

Land laid bare

And all the everyday ways that we ravage the earth

and exploit its resources

with scant regard for those from whom 

even the basic necessities of life are withheld

Before we condemn, may we reflect and resolve

to play our part in restoration

of the soul of creation

working alongside the creator of souls

The God who sees us and knows our stories

and offers to be our friend

so that, we too, can know transformation

Transformation that enables us to look beyond what we see 

and what we hear

broadening our vision

and widening our compassion

to care for all of creation.