Redeeming The Time

There is a grave marker in a Utah cemetery showing a boy standing from his wheelchair and reaching towards the heavens. His paralysis is over now. This image is an apt metaphor for the purpose of Great Lent. Since Zacchaeus Sunday is the unofficial beginning of the preparation period for Great Lent, we discuss the purpose of Great Lent in the context of his "Zacchaeus moment." The church will talk about many such moments in the coming weeks and all of Great Lent - with Gospels on the Publican and the Pharisee, the Prodigal son, and much about St. Mary of Egypt in the 5th week. All of these had "Zacchaeus moments." We do too, and we must learn to listen for them and "make haste" when we hear them. (The statue is worth seeing, and reading about the memorable child Matthew Stafford is also worthwhile, at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7140314)