After the tree

When I sat here to write this morning, I was surprised when this came out.  I'd already finished my portrait of Zacchaeus, and I didn't realize that there was more.  Since it came out here first, I'd like to share it with you.  Comments, anyone?

About comments...someone wrote on a blog the other day that the only way he knew that people actually read his posts were if they commented.  Otherwise, they could be bots.  Are you a bot? If not, could you comment?  Thanks!!

Nothing has changed.

My world is the same as it was yesterday,

But everything feels different.

He saw me!

I was up in that tree,

Only wanting to see the man from Nazareth

The teacher from Galilee

And he saw me!

How on earth did he know I was there?

Hidden in the sycamore fig?

How in the world did he know my name?

But he did,

And he bade me come down,

And he treated me as a friend,

And he invited himself for dinner.

Me--

Zaccheaus--

The tax collector.

I said that nothing has changed,

But that isn't quite right.

No, it isn't right at all.

Everything has changed.

My life has new purpose, new meaning.

What was important yesterday

Is nothing today.

And all that is within me is new.

I no longer long for riches--

I only long to be with Him.

Be His follower.

My life is turned inside out,

And I feel that I am well for the first time.

Jesus of Nazareth,

Christ of Galilee,

Messiah.

What would you have me to be?

I will do whatever you want.

Whether it's to be your follower,

your servant,

your clown--

Only say the word.

You healed my soul, 

please,

let me now do something for you.

Wait?

I will see in time?

Very well.

I will walk with you 

And in time,

I will know what I am to do.

For now, 

Lord,

Grant me the patience

To wait.

the pharisee

Hi everyone--

This is important to me. Please respond.  I have lots of these portraits--it's the major thing I've always wanted to publish. But how do I publish them?  What do you think they would do best as?  Monologs? Short stories/poetry?  Some sort of book of reflections?

I call them Biblical portraits.  They are pictures of men and women from the old and new testament, seen in a different way.

I would love your comments.  If enough of you comment for me to get a clear picture of what you think, I will follow the majority rule.

Thanks!

the pharisee

Matt 22:34ff, 23

Among my people, there is a saying

that if anyone could keep all the rules

all the laws

for one day

then Messiah would come.

All the rules.

All the laws.

There are over 600 laws recorded in the Torah.

We have laws which govern everything

we do not need to question anything.

It is all clearly spelled out.

Of course, it was not always so.

When our father, Adam, was created

there was only one law

do not eat the fruit.

Knowing he could not,

naturally he ate

and caused the curse to come upon us all.

Since that time, we have slowly become overwhelmed

by law

by rules

by regulations.

Eat this

do not eat that.

Wear this

do not wear that.

Associate with this group,

but not with those over there,

who worship a different way.

Actually, I do not mind it.

I see it as a challenge.

A goad to the intellect.

Who is following the law,

and who is not,

and for those who are not,

what shall the punishment be?

I was content

until he came.

This Jesus.

Who did he think he was?

Saying that all of the laws could be broken down

made into two:

The Shema:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart

and soul

 and mind

and the other like it:

love your neighbor as yourself.

I heard him that night, and at first I was amused,

even impressed

by his insight.

But that night,

alone in my room

with no other faces about me

 to reflect my superiority

I was forced to consider anew his words.

Love the Lord your God

Love God

Love the Lord

Love your neighbor

Love yourself

Love.

This is the difficulty.

Laws are easy to follow.

You know right away if you are right or wrong.

Everything is clearly spelled out

and punishment is swift and sure

for those who transgress.

But love?

What does law have to do with love?

I am a Pharisee.

One of the chosen--

chosen even among the chosen

elite.

A lawyer.

One who has made it his life's work to carry out

the law.

I know every law

all 613

and I ruthlessly search out those who transgress those laws

to prosecute

even kill

 if necessary,

so that the law may stand firm.

But if this man,

this Jesus

is right,

what happens to the law?

What happens to me?

No!

He cannot be right.

For if he is,

then he is God.

And if he is God,

then the law

and everything it stands for

must be different than I had thought.

But I spent my life in the study of the law.

I cannot be wrong.

The price is too high.

Therefore,

he cannot be God.

And if he,

not being God,

proclaims himself God,

then he must die

so that the word of the law may be fulfilled.

There is a tradition among my people

that if one man should uphold all the law

for one day

then Messiah would come.

As I watched him on the cross

a man who

it was said

had no guilt in him

it occurred to me:

could it be that the only man who could uphold the law

all the law

for one day

was the Messiah?

And was that man

Messiah

even now upholding the law

fulfilling the law

on that same cross?

No!

It could not be.

The price was too high.

Unless, of course,

you reasoned in the price

of love.