While the story of Eleazar from the First Book of Maccabees and that of Zaccheus from the Gospel of Luke are very different they do have one thing in common. They both are examples that being people of faith can be costly. Eleazar paid with his life, Zaccheus with his finances. We easily can get live out our faith in a habitual manner — same prayers and practices as before. But there will be times when the faith will inconvenience us, will make demands upon us. Eleazar spat out the meat. Zaccheus climbed a tree. Not major actions in themselves but actions which had great consequences. When we are inconvienenced by another’s need, question, grief, sickness faith demands that we respond. How it will play out is not clear to us but when we are willing to pay the price we take our belief in God to a whole new level.
