Be nice when you speak of the dead
Ed, my old neighbor from Saskatchewan, phoned yesterday with the sad news that a mutual friend had died. Some folks are a treat to know in life. When they die, their kindness, sense of humour and enthusiasm for life are greatly missed. We will remember our departed friend for those very reasons.
My old neighbour can have a sharp, cutting side to him even when folks are grieving. Ed does not believe in speaking well of the dead unless they were deserving of it. “If a person acted like a jerk in life, I don’t want to hear that he has become a great guy once he is dead,” Ed has said repeatedly about the deceased. I have offered to Ed that perhaps he never saw a better side of the person he has described as a jerk. I also suggested in consideration for those who loved the jerk, it is best not to say anything if what we say cannot be kind. Ed has always maintained that he calls people as he sees them, whether they are dead or alive.
Calling other people as we see them may not be as satisfying as we think. Judging the behaviour of another person is a fruitless endeavour unless we can find something positive and good to say about another person. To praise, to encourage and to speak well of another is uplifting to everyone. If we have a fault-finding mindset towards others, we may well be blind to our personal faults. We may be working on the faulty thinking that my sins are better than your sins or my dirt is cleaner than your dirt. Any fool can judge the behaviour of another person, but no one can see their hearts, motives and reasons for their behaviour. It is not wise to judge anyone except oneself.
Zacchaeus in the Bible was a tax collector. Then, as now, no one likes to pay taxes. Tax collectors were resented and often called sinners because it was felt they cheated people, taking way more than was required when they collected the taxes. When Jesus entered Jericho, the wealthy tax collector Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. Being a short man, he climbed a tree so he could see Jesus when he passed by in the street. When Jesus reached the tree, he stopped to call Zacchaeus to come down. Jesus wanted to stay at his house that day. Jesus' desire to stay with him upset the crowd there. They grumbled about Jesus going to be a guest of the sinner, Zacchaeus.
Zacchaeus vowed to Jesus before the crowd that right then he would give half of his wealth to the poor. He also promised to repay back four times if he had cheated anyone. Jesus came to seek and save what was lost. Zacchaeus was lost in his life of being a wealthy tax collector at the expense of his neighbours and without charity to the poor. Meeting Jesus was his opportunity to show everyone he was not a cheat or unconcerned about the poor. Jesus sought out Zacchaeus as a sinner who could change to honour God and his neighbour. Jesus came to seek and to save those that others saw as obvious sinners.
