On Reformation weekend, this sermon returns us to the heart of Lutheran faith: grace always comes first. From God feeding the Israelites in the wilderness to Jesus seeing Zacchaeus and welcoming him into relationship, Scripture tells a consistent story of a God whose generosity is abundant, undeserved, and life-giving.
That grace changes us. Zacchaeus moves from greed and isolation toward generosity, repair, and restored community—not because he is shamed into it, but because he has been truly seen and loved by Jesus. This message invites us to trust that there is enough, release what we are clutching too tightly, and become more generous with the resources God has entrusted to us so that our neighbors, too, may experience abundant life.
