Among the devices on my car, is a function that beeps at me when ever I begin to drift out of my lane. And not just a little bit, any movement at all seems to have the car beeping at me. When my grandson is the backseat passenger, he notices the beeping as well. “What makes your car beep, Grandpa?” he asks. I explain that if I go a little off course, the car will beep and let me know. So now, in addition to the beeping, whenever he is the passenger, I get another reminder, “Drive straight, Grandpa!”.
In today’s gospel from Luke, we have the story of Zaccheus, a tax collector who may have sometimes gone down the wrong path. But Jesus says that He will eat at Zaccheus’ house this day, because the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost. May we all work on “driving straight” so we find our way to the Kingdom of God. And when we are lost, or veering off path, may we remember that Jesus has come to seek out and save those who are lost.
The mercy of God knows no bounds, and God’s forgiveness is for each one of us. Never despair that mercy is not for you, God has come to seek out and to save those who are lost, not the least of which is you. May we come in joy to worship this Lord who forgives us, and welcomes us back, time and time again.