Frederick Buechner, “Zaccheus,” Peculiar Treasures, p. 179-181
Loren Eiseley, “A Hidden World,” The Man Who Saw Through Time, p. 60
“A Hidden World”
Robert Frost, “Sycamore,” Complete Poems, p. 331
Virginia Stem Owens, “The Hospitality of Sinners,” Looking for Jesus, p. 125-131
Ku Sang, “Christmas Lament,” Divine Inspiration, p. 226
Zenkei Shibayama, “The Mop,” Tales of the City of God, p. 228
“The Mop”
Near the monastery was the private house of Roshi Bukai,
who had hired it for some time.
Before going to live in it, my master, Roshi Bukai, asked me to clean it.
The previous tenants had left the house in terrible condition.
I managed to clean the rooms,
but when I reached the bathroom the difficulty increased.
Besides, it was a day in August, the heat was unbearable, and I hesitated.
I felt as though I was being asked to touch something horrid and revolting.
…
Roshi looked at me for a moment and said calmly:
“You have a mop in your hands, and you are unable to be one with it,
being disturbed by the distinction of clean and dirty.”
Christopher Smart, “The Story of Zaccheus,” Divine Inspiration, p. 224
“The Story of Zaccheus”
Praise-worthy in a high degree
Is godly curiosity;
To search the Lord, above, around,
If haply he may yet be found.
Short-sighted reason, dwarf desire,
Are faith and zeal when lifted high’r.
Then on the Tree of Life sublime
With hands and knees devoutly climb;
Catch mercy’s moments as they fly,
Behold! the Lord is passing by.
Helmut Thielicke, “Who is a God-Seeker,” How to Believe Again, p. 25-37
8-9 Ezekiel 33:15
9 Galatians 3:29
10 Matthew 18:11
5-8 Imaging the Word, Vol. 2, p. 62-65
1 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.”
19:1 και εισελθων διηρχετο την ιεριχω 19:2 και ιδου ανηρ ονοματι καλουμενος ζακχαιος και αυτος ην αρχιτελωνης και ουτος ην πλουσιος 19:3 και εζητει ιδειν τον ιησουν τις εστιν και ουκ ηδυνατο απο του οχλου οτι τη ηλικια μικρος ην 19:4 και προδραμων εμπροσθεν ανεβη επι συκομωραιαν ινα ιδη αυτον οτι [δι] εκεινης εμελλεν διερχεσθαι 19:5 και ως ηλθεν επι τον τοπον αναβλεψας ο ιησους ειδεν αυτον και ειπεν προς αυτον ζακχαιε σπευσας καταβηθι σημερον γαρ εν τω οικω σου δει με μειναι 19:6 και σπευσας κατεβη και υπεδεξατο αυτον χαιρων 19:7 και ιδοντες παντες διεγογγυζον λεγοντες οτι παρα αμαρτωλω ανδρι εισηλθεν καταλυσαι 19:8 σταθεις δε ζακχαιος ειπεν προς τον κυριον ιδου τα ημιση των υπαρχοντων μου κυριε διδωμι τοις πτωχοις και ει τινος τι εσυκοφαντησα αποδιδωμι τετραπλουν 19:9 ειπεν δε προς αυτον ο ιησους οτι σημερον σωτηρια τω οικω τουτω εγενετο καθοτι και αυτος υιος αβρααμ εστιν 19:10 ηλθεν γαρ ο υιος του ανθρωπου ζητησαι και σωσαι το απολωλος
Eberhard Arnold, Salt and Light, p. 253 f.
Salt and Light
When he comes he will call them all to account to find whether they have used the powers entrusted to them to do the work in accordance with his will. When he returns he will hold a festive communal table … uniting all those who were determined and able to administer the earth as he wanted it done, and to permeate it with his spirit.
George A. Buttrick, “Opportunity Fidelity and Reward,” The Parables of Jesus, p. 240-251
John Dominic Crossan, “Parables of Action,” In Parables, p. 100-103
Joachim Jeremias, “The Talents,” Rediscovering the Parables, p. 45 ff.
Elton Trueblood, The Humor of Christ, p. 110-115
17 John Donne, “In the Shadow of Thy Wings,” Classics of Western Spirituality, p. 184
11 As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12 He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive a kingdom and then return. 13 Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten pounds, and said to them, ‘Trade with these till I come.’ 14 But his citizens hated him and sent an embassy after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ 15 When he returned, having received the kingdom, he commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by trading. 16 The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your pound has made ten pounds more.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your pound has made five pounds.’ 19 And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 20 Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your pound, which I kept laid away in a napkin; 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 He said to him, ‘I will condemn you out of your own mouth, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then did you not put my money into the bank, and at my coming I should have collected it with interest?’ 24 And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the pound from him, and give it to him who has the ten pounds.’ 25 (And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten pounds!’) . 26 ‘I tell you, that to every one who has will more be given; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 27 But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them before me.’”
19:11 ακουοντων δε αυτων ταυτα προσθεις ειπεν παραβολην δια το εγγυς αυτον ειναι ιερουσαλημ και δοκειν αυτους οτι παραχρημα μελλει η βασιλεια του θεου αναφαινεσθαι 19:12 ειπεν ουν ανθρωπος τις ευγενης επορευθη εις χωραν μακραν λαβειν εαυτω βασιλειαν και υποστρεψαι 19:13 καλεσας δε δεκα δουλους εαυτου εδωκεν αυτοις δεκα μνας και ειπεν προς αυτους πραγματευσασθε εως ερχομαι 19:14 οι δε πολιται αυτου εμισουν αυτον και απεστειλαν πρεσβειαν οπισω αυτου λεγοντες ου θελομεν τουτον βασιλευσαι εφ ημας 19:15 και εγενετο εν τω επανελθειν αυτον λαβοντα την βασιλειαν [και] ειπεν φωνηθηναι αυτω τους δουλους τουτους οις εδωκεν το αργυριον ινα γνω τις τι διεπραγματευσατο 19:16 παρεγενετο δε ο πρωτος λεγων κυριε η μνα σου προσειργασατο δεκα μνας 19:17 και ειπεν αυτω ευ αγαθε δουλε οτι εν ελαχιστω πιστος εγενου ισθι εξουσιαν εχων επανω δεκα πολεων 19:18 και ηλθεν ο δευτερος λεγων κυριε η μνα σου εποιησεν πεντε μνας 19:19 ειπεν δε και τουτω και σου γινου επανω πεντε πολεων 19:20 και ετερος ηλθεν λεγων κυριε ιδου η μνα σου ην ειχον αποκειμενην εν σουδαριω 19:21 εφοβουμην γαρ σε οτι ανθρωπος αυστηρος ει αιρεις ο ουκ εθηκας και θεριζεις ο ουκ εσπειρας 19:22 λεγει δε αυτω εκ του στοματος σου κρινω σε πονηρε δουλε ηδεις οτι εγω ανθρωπος αυστηρος ειμι αιρων ο ουκ εθηκα και θεριζων ο ουκ εσπειρα 19:23 και δια τι ουκ εδωκας το αργυριον μου επι τραπεζαν και εγω ελθων συν τοκω αν επραξα αυτο 19:24 και τοις παρεστωσιν ειπεν αρατε απ αυτου την μναν και δοτε τω τας δεκα μνας εχοντι 19:25 και ειπον αυτω κυριε εχει δεκα μνας 19:26 λεγω γαρ υμιν οτι παντι τω εχοντι δοθησεται απο δε του μη εχοντος και ο εχει αρθησεται απ αυτου 19:27 πλην τους εχθρους μου εκεινους τους μη θελησαντας με βασιλευσαι επ αυτους αγαγετε ωδε και κατασφαξατε εμπροσθεν μου
Dan Damon, “Blessed Is the One,” Faith Will Sing, p. 4
38 Psalm 118:26
41-44 Psalm 119:136; Luke 13:31-35
42-44 Jeremiah 6:14-15
44-45 Zechariah 14:21
36-46 John Howard Yoder, “The Epiphany in the Temple,” The Politics of Jesus, p. 47
36 Malcolm Muggeridge, Jesus: The Man who Lives, p. 140
37-40 Ludwig Theobul Kosegarten, “The Amen of the Stones,” Divine Inspiration, p. 334
39-40 Richard Wilbur, “A Christmas Hymn,” New and Collected Poems, p. 225 f.
“A Christmas Hymn”
40 Shane Claiborne, The Irresistible Revolution, p. 17 f.
The Irresistible Revolution
But most Christian artists and preachers have remained strangely distant from human suffering, offering the world eternal assurance over prophetic imagination. Perhaps it should not surprise us that Jesus says that if the Christians remain silent, then the rocks will cry out … or the rock stars, I guess.
40 Catherine de Vinck, “Even the Stones Sing,” Burning Light (May 1995), p. 15
“Even the Stones Sing”
40 Duane Niatum, “Stones Speak of an Earthless Sky,” Poetry Comes Up Where It Can, p. 89
40 Cornel West, Prophetic Thought in Postmodern Time, p. 24
Prophetic Thought in Postmodern Time
But when I say look to the future there is not going to be solely institutions of civil society like churches but other institutions that may emerge as well. And we just don’t know. One way of talking about this theologically is that we believe that there always will be a cloud of witnesses, but we don’t know what form it will take. If the churches and religious institutions fail then the spirit will go somewhere else, because the rocks will cry out if they don’t. I believe that. I could be naive, of course, but I believe that.
41-44 György Ronay, “The Destruction of Jerusalem,” Divine Inspiration, p. 362
41-44 William Stafford, “At Cove on the Crooked River,” The Way It Is, p. 98
“At Cove on the Crooked River”
41-42 Walter Brueggemann, “Criticism and Pathos in Jesus of Nazareth,” The Prophetic Imagination, p. 90 f.
“Criticism and Pathos in Jesus of Nazareth”
41-42 David H. C. Read, “The Calm in our Confusion—Palm Sunday,” I Am Persuaded, p. 111-119
28 And when he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village opposite, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat; untie it and bring it here. 31 If any one asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this, ‘The Lord has need of it.’” 32 So those who were sent went away and found it as he had told them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their garments on the colt they set Jesus upon it. 36 And as he rode along, they spread their garments on the road. 37 As he was now drawing near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”
41 And when he drew near and saw the city he wept over it, 42 saying, “Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! But now they are hid from your eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon you, when your enemies will cast up a bank about you and surround you, and hem you in on every side, 44 and dash you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another in you; because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
19:28 και ειπων ταυτα επορευετο εμπροσθεν αναβαινων εις ιεροσολυμα
19:29 και εγενετο ως ηγγισεν εις βηθσφαγη και βηθανιαν προς το ορος το καλουμενον ελαιων απεστειλεν δυο των μαθητων αυτου 19:30 ειπων υπαγετε εις την κατεναντι κωμην εν η εισπορευομενοι ευρησετε πωλον δεδεμενον εφ ον ουδεις πωποτε ανθρωπων εκαθισεν λυσαντες αυτον αγαγετε 19:31 και εαν τις υμας ερωτα δια τι λυετε ουτως ερειτε αυτω οτι ο κυριος αυτου χρειαν εχει 19:32 απελθοντες δε οι απεσταλμενοι ευρον καθως ειπεν αυτοις 19:33 λυοντων δε αυτων τον πωλον ειπον οι κυριοι αυτου προς αυτους τι λυετε τον πωλον 19:34 οι δε ειπον ο κυριος αυτου χρειαν εχει 19:35 και ηγαγον αυτον προς τον ιησουν και επιρριψαντες εαυτων τα ιματια επι τον πωλον επεβιβασαν τον ιησουν 19:36 πορευομενου δε αυτου υπεστρωννυον τα ιματια αυτων εν τη οδω 19:37 εγγιζοντος δε αυτου ηδη προς τη καταβασει του ορους των ελαιων ηρξαντο απαν το πληθος των μαθητων χαιροντες αινειν τον θεον φωνη μεγαλη περι πασων ων ειδον δυναμεων 19:38 λεγοντες ευλογημενος ο ερχομενος βασιλευς εν ονοματι κυριου ειρηνη εν ουρανω και δοξα εν υψιστοις 19:39 και τινες των φαρισαιων απο του οχλου ειπον προς αυτον διδασκαλε επιτιμησον τοις μαθηταις σου 19:40 και αποκριθεις ειπεν αυτοις λεγω υμιν οτι εαν ουτοι σιωπησωσιν οι λιθοι κεκραξονται
19:41 και ως ηγγισεν ιδων την πολιν εκλαυσεν επ αυτη 19:42 λεγων οτι ει εγνως και συ και γε εν τη ημερα σου ταυτη τα προς ειρηνην σου νυν δε εκρυβη απο οφθαλμων σου 19:43 οτι ηξουσιν ημεραι επι σε και περιβαλουσιν οι εχθροι σου χαρακα σοι και περικυκλωσουσιν σε και συνεξουσιν σε παντοθεν 19:44 και εδαφιουσιν σε και τα τεκνα σου εν σοι και ουκ αφησουσιν εν σοι λιθον επι λιθω ανθ ων ουκ εγνως τον καιρον της επισκοπης σου
44-45 Zechariah 14:21
46 Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 7:11
47 Psalm 23:6; Luke 21:37
45-46 Gérard Félix Tchicaya U Tam’si, “The Scorner (6),” Divine Inspiration, p. 365
45 And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer’; but you have made it a den of robbers.” 47 And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people sought to destroy him; 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people hung upon his words.
19:45 και εισελθων εις το ιερον ηρξατο εκβαλλειν τους πωλουντας εν αυτω και αγοραζοντας 19:46 λεγων αυτοις γεγραπται ο οικος μου οικος προσευχης εστιν υμεις δε αυτον εποιησατε σπηλαιον ληστων 19:47 και ην διδασκων το καθ ημεραν εν τω ιερω οι δε αρχιερεις και οι γραμματεις εζητουν αυτον απολεσαι και οι πρωτοι του λαου 19:48 και ουχ ευρισκον το τι ποιησωσιν ο λαος γαρ απας εξεκρεματο αυτου ακουων