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Sacred Spaces – the branches of a sycamore

 
Trees are mentioned quite frequently in the Bible. In fact, the created world is a theme that runs through Scripture from beginning (the creation of the Garden of Eden) to end (the fruitful, healing trees of life in the restored Eden). God often speaks to his people using trees as metaphors, and many of Jesus’ parables feature trees (or plant-life) of some kind. 

One very interesting story is how a tree was used to bring about a healing encounter between Jesus and a wealthy government worker. 

Once again, we are exploring how unusual places and situations become sacred spaces of encounter – and here, we encounter Jesus from within the branches of a tree. 

Let’s reflect together on what God is saying to us through this encounter – and broaden our perspective a little to think about what the trees of the earth have to say to us. 

Here is the video link if you would like to follow this on-line:- https://youtu.be/iBFo08TxYdY

Call to Worship

 
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; 

let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!” 

Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; 

let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! 

Let the trees of the forest sing, 

let them sing for joy before the Lord, 

for he comes to judge the earth. 

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; 

his love endures forever. 

1 Chron 16:31-34 

Scripture

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. Ps 1:1-3

Prayer

O Lord, I come rejoicing before you like the trees of the forest! Let my roots grow deep into the fertile soil of your love so I can stand firm and be fruitful for you. Thank you for the fruitfulness and beauty you bring into my life. May I be like an olive tree, flourishing in your house, trusting in your unfailing love forever. I sing for joy for all you have done for me. I shout aloud with the earth beneath me, And burst into song with the mountains, forests and trees, For you have blessed us and your glory is displayed everywhere we look.1

Scripture

But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. Jer 17:7-8

Reflection

The story is told of a man who wanted to see who Jesus was. He was not tall, dark and handsome – well, strictly speaking we don’t know all of that for sure. We do know he was short, wealthy and unpopular, given that he was a tax collector and possibly wealthy because of how he collected the taxes. There is much we don’t know about Zaccheus, but we do know he was considered by others to be a sinner and certainly not worthy of Jesus’ time or favour. We don’t know what he had heard about Jesus, yet obviously he had heard enough to make him curious. We catch only a glimpse of this man in Luke’s account of Jesus’ life. He was a seeker. He wanted to see – and he went to some effort to be able to do that properly. Because of his height, he needed to be above the crowd – and perhaps because of his unpopularity, he also wanted to be separate from the crowd, unnoticed, hidden away in the foliage of a sycamore tree – unseen, yet able to see. Amongst the crowd of people, Jesus knows Zaccheus is tucked away above them, nestled in the branches. Unexpectedly, he stops – he looks up – he calls Zaccheus by name. And he calls him home – in inviting himself to Zaccheus’ home for the day, Jesus is giving Zaccheus the opportunity to come home. To be at home. To find his true home – to discover who he is, other than a wealthy, unpopular tax collector. Zaccheus welcomes his guest gladly, despite the mutterings of disapproval from the crowd, despite the thoughts that must be going through their minds about his unworthiness. Jesus sees – names – recognises the longing and need for healing in Zaccheus. Zaccheus welcomes the invitation to be at home with Jesus – and immediately proclaims his intention to make things right. From a desire to see, and the commitment to do whatever necessary in order to see, comes an encounter that leads to transformation. Zaccheus’ immediate response, after a warm welcome, was the commitment to make things right, to restore what needed to be restored – this is a whole-hearted and life-transforming commitment that would impact his whole household. (from Luke 19:1-10) Spend some moments in quiet reflection on this sacred encounter with Jesus. What speaks to you from this story? Are there times in your own life when you have longed to truly see Jesus, or to see him more clearly? Are there ‘trees’ you have needed to ‘climb’ to get a clearer perspective? When have you truly felt seen, known and understood by Jesus? What does it mean for you to welcome Jesus into your home? How do you experience being home with Jesus? As you draw closer to Jesus, perhaps seeing him and being seen in new ways, are there things in your life that you feel need to be made right? How have such sacred encounters with Jesus brought transformation, healing and new life to you? How has God used the beauty of Creation to draw you deeper into relationship with him?

Pause for silent prayer and reflection

Scripture

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him. Ps 92:12-15

Prayer

Open my eyes, Lord, that I might see you as you pass by. Open my heart to where you are already at work within and around me. Give me courage to confront obstacles that stand in the way of me truly seeing who you are. Give me courage to stand in vulnerability before you, knowing that you see me more clearly and more deeply than I am sometimes comfortable with. I welcome you into the home of my heart, into the dwelling-place of my life. Please show me what it means to live whole-heartedly at home with you.2

Scripture

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. Revelation 22:1-6

Prayer

Creator God, anchor me in your love. Jesus, living vine, move and grow in me that I may move and grow in you. Spirit of life, flow in me that I may bear the fruit of love, joy, peace and patience. You, Lord, are the vine; we are the branches. Help us to remain 

connected to you, as you dwell within each of us. Remind us of the hope we have that all will be renewed and restored, and that one day we will celebrate together the healing of the nations and the flourishing of all your people.3

Benediction

May you flourish like an olive tree in the house of the Lord – even during times of drought and sorrow. May you grow strong in faith and endure, like the cedars of Lebanon – even when you feel weak. May you produce fruit in season and your leaf never wither, though you may not always see it. May you rejoice and clap your hands with the trees of the field, and burst into song with the mountains and hills – when you least feel like singing. And may you see and know the breath and presence of the Creator Spirit in all things and at all times.4

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Reflection

How does nature help you to connect with God? Think of the ways you have experienced God in the beauty of the created world. What have you learned about God or yourself from these experiences?

 

 

 

THE PRAYER OF EXAMEN - Finding the movement of the Spirit in our daily lives as we review our day.

 

This is something that can be done throughout the day or at the end of the day. It helps us to become more aware of and focused on the presence of God in the midst of everyday life.

1. Recognize the presence of God

Be still and know that you are with God.

2. Look at your day with gratitude

Acknowledge God in the big and small things of life.

3. Review your day

When or where in the past 24 hours did you feel you were cooperating most fully with God’s action in your life? When were you resisting?

Ask yourself

• What habits and life patterns do I notice?

• When did I feel most alive? Most drained of life?

• When did I have the greatest sense of belonging? When did I feel most alone?

• When did I give love? Where did I receive love?

• When did I feel most fully myself? Least myself? 

• When did I feel most whole? Most fragmented?

4. Reconcile and Resolve

• Seek forgiveness

• Ask for direction

• Share a concern

• Express gratitude 

• Resolve to move forward