Preparing for Interact
As you begin your time together make sure to introduce any newcomers into the group!
Open up the discussion with this starter question:
Can you think of an example of a space (physical or social) that has felt inaccessible for you? How did this make you feel?
Interact//The Arts
Samara Golden dizzied audiences in her 2015 table-turning immersive installation 'A Fall of Corners'. This installation exhibition takes the everyday social setting of 'the table' and makes it wholly inaccessible by locating familiar setups on the walls and ceilings. By shifting our view, Golden gives us a new vantage point from which to reflect on how we access and engage with the social spaces we encounter every day. Read more about the work yourselves here.
Discuss:
What are your initial reflections on this work?
What questions might Samara Golden's installation cause us to ask about the everyday space of 'the table'?
The work plays with our physical vantage point (the position we view things from) and access to objects. How might changes in our physical vantage point cause us to reflect on things differently?
Interact// The Word
Ask someone to read Luke 19 v 1-9
19 1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Short Reflection
To say Zaccheus was not a popular man would be an understatement. Zaccheus was a very wealthy man, which with our modern minds we might imagine would place him right at the centre of society rather than the margins. However, Zaccheus worked as a tax collector for the oppressive Roman Empire and his wealth would have been gathered by extracting money from and possibly defrauding his fellow Israelites. So he is a despised outcast on the margins of society. His marginalisation is also made worse by his physical difference. Luke describes him as small in stature, which would have contributed to him being ignored and overlooked. We quickly see this play out in the events unfolding in this passage. As crowds eagerly gather around Jesus as he arrives at Jericho, Zaccheus really wants to meet him, but he is pushed further and further back physically into the margins. Shamelessly, and in desperation, Zaccheus demeans himself by climbing up a tree so that he might catch a glimpse of Jesus.
Noticing him, Jesus focuses away from the crowd and onto Zaccheus. He calls him down from the tree and asks to be hosted in Zaccheus' home. It might seem very forward of Jesus to invite himself around, but to offer hospitality to a renowned teacher like Jesus would have been an honour. Jesus is going above and beyond to show his public acceptance of Zaccheus. Those watching on can't believe what they are seeing, Jesus should be condemning this sinner and social outcast, but he is instead honouring him! Why would he associate with such a man?
It soon becomes clear that Jesus' act of welcome has completely transformed Zaccheus' life. Once stuck in self-centredness, marginalised, and excluded from society, Zaccheus now vows to change and becomes a radically generous and self-giving man. One act of welcome from Jesus has transformed everything about him!
Discuss:
Why do you think Zaccheus was so keen to meet Jesus?
Luke wants us to imagine this story from Zaccheus' vantage point and creatively uses verbs and physical details to tell his story. Why do you think Luke pays such attention to physical placement and movement in the story? What impact do these details have on showing us what is happening to Zaccheus?
Why do you think a visit from Jesus has such a significant impact on Zaccheus' life?
At the end of this passage, Jesus remarks that 'salvation has come to Zaccheus' house'. What do you think he means by this?
Get Creative: Every good book, film or TV show has strong character development. How would you plot Zaccheus' character development in this story?
Interact// Ourselves and Others
The domestic table is an ordinary space but holds rich symbolic and relational value. Why do you think opening up our homes and inviting others to eat with us makes such a difference to our relationships?
What does this story teach us about the importance of both giving and receiving hospitality?
How might reflecting on the welcome that we have received from Jesus help us to be more generous to others this week?
Wrapping Up
Are there people on your University course or in your accommodation that you purposefully try to avoid? How might you be able to make a meaningful connection with them this week?
Why not take some time to pray through what you have chatted about today?
Thank you God that you welcome us into a relationship with you through Jesus. Thank you that you accept us even though you know the darkest parts of us. Please help us to know your welcome and acceptance this week and live for you. Help us to turn away from old and selfish ways, and instead live generously and hospitably towards those around us regardless of who they are.
Amen.