October 30 Podcast: Being noticed and heard!
The 21st Sunday After Pentecost:
Scriptures: Psalm 32:1-7; Luke 19:1-10
Key Verse: “Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” (Psalm 32:2)
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Hello, This is Jade.
Welcome to Yi.kigai
A space for all to explore the intersection between faith and daily life
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Have you ever been afraid of not being forgiven for a mistake you made? I don’t know about you, but I have made a great number of mistakes in my life. I am grateful for all the forgiveness that I have received and regret some mistakes that were never resolved. As I was trying to put myself in the shoes of Zacchaeus in Luke 19, an accident came to my mind.
Right after I got my driver’s license, I asked my dad if I could use his car to give my classmates a ride since it was late. He agreed and told me to be careful because it was raining. After dropping off my classmates, the thunder came and the rain got heavier. I was even more nervous because of the low visibility. While turning onto a big road from a narrow alley, one of the back wheels got stuck in a ditch. Because cell phones didn’t exist back then in 1987, I decided to leave the car at the corner of that intersection hoping that there wouldn't be any cars that needed to drive through.
I ran as fast as I could to the apartments where my classmates lived and told them what happened. In a short amount of time, a group of male classmates and schoolmates gathered at the accident site and lifted the car from the ditch. We could see some damage with flashlights. Some of them said to me, “You are doomed! It’s bad. There is no way your dad won’t notice it.”
Since many of my classmates and schoolmates liked to hang out at the restaurant that my family owned, they knew about my dad’s temper. But they also knew that he loved me dearly. They even told me how to tell the story. On my way driving home, I kept rehearsing how I should tell him about the accident and didn’t even dare to think of any possible punishments. The moment I got home, I saw my dad standing at the door. He asked, “Why did it take you that long?” I got out of the car and still couldn’t make up my mind on what to say. The moment he saw me soaking wet, he asked, “What happened?” I pointed to the back of the car and soon the tears welled up in my eyes out of fear, not knowing what my dad would do.
Do you remember the tax collector asking to be heard and forgiven in Jesus’ parable in Luke 18:9-14? Jesus knew the hearts of people like tax collectors. As Jews working for the Roman government to collect taxes from their own people, they probably felt awkward holding this position. Had Zacchaeus ever dreamed of having someone like Jesus initiate a visit to his house? Jesus assured him that salvation had come to his house and that he was heard and forgiven by God.
Salvation is about the restoration of the relationship between God and Gods’ people. Because of our faith in Jesus Christ who lives in us and among us, salvation has come to our households. We all have been heard and forgiven by God. For this, we honor and worship God with a grateful heart. For this, we come before God to repent for what we have done or not done. You might still be wondering how my dad reacted that night. He stared at the car for a while and asked me what happened. Then he told me to go take a hot shower so that I don't catch a cold. Was there any punishment? It must not have been that bad because I can’t remember it.
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May your coming week be blessed by God’s grace
As together we explore the intersection between faith and daily life
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