Zacchaeus Come Down!

(By Archbishop Joseph Harris)

Zacchaeus come down for I must stay at your house today

Gospel reading: Luke 19:1-10

Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the town when a man whose name was Zacchaeus made his appearance; he was one of the senior tax collectors and a wealthy man. He was anxious to see what kind of man Jesus was, but he was too short and could not see him for the crowd; so he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus who was to pass that way.

When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him: “Zacchaeus come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.” And he hurried down and welcomed Him joyfully. They all complained when they saw what was happening. “He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house” they said. But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to the Lord, “Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.”

Sermon

The Gospel given to us for our meditation is extremely rich. There are three characters in the story, Zacchaeus, Jesus and the complainers; and each character tells us something about ourselves. Zacchaeus is a public sinner, afraid to meet Jesus as an equal, so he hides in a tree; Jesus is the caregiver bringing salvation to others, and there are the complainers who cannot be happy when others are blessed.

Today I would like to concentrate on the role of Jesus, the caregiver who comes to seek out and save those who are lost. The story then tells us how Jesus saves, and invites us to imitate him in our way of dealing with those who experience themselves as alienated.

Jesus is going through the town, and Zacchaeus who is a public sinner, looked down upon by his fellow Israelites, climbs up into a tree to see Jesus. Zacchaeus does not think that Jesus would have time for him but Jesus does have time for him, we are told when Jesus reached the place he looked up to Zacchaeus, who is not with the crowd but apart from the crowd in the tree, and says to him, “Zacchaeus come down” as if saying to him “let us talk as equals.” Then he continues, “Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.” Jesus invites himself to Zacchaeus’ home. It is spontaneous and unconditional. There is no sign of condescension. Only friends can invite themselves to the house of another.

This sign of Jesus’ friendship triggers a change in Zacchaeus. From being one who preyed on others, he becomes a benefactor.

There are of course the complainers, but Jesus recognizes the generosity of Zacchaeus. He says, “Salvation has come to this house,” and he takes Zacchaeus’ side against the complainers: “This man too is a son of Abraham; He has a right also to God’s blessings.”

He then adds, “The son of man came to save what was lost.”

In other words Jesus provides the environment in which people can change and become the best that they can be.

There are three stages to this encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus

1. Jesus has time for Zacchaeus.

2. Jesus treats Zacchaeus as an equal without condescension.

3. Jesus defends Zacchaeus against the complaints of others, and somehow creates the atmosphere in which Zacchaeus can become the best that he could be.

This story is in fact the story of so many of parents with shy and withdrawn children. It is the story of so many of our great teachers with slow learners who were ridiculed by others. It is the story of many pastors who had time for the poor and alienated in their parishes. It is the story of Servol, of the great Fr. Murphy and of many others. The Gospel today calls us to remember these caregivers with gratitude to God. Without them Trinidad and Tobago and many of us would not be where we are today.

But the Gospel also calls us to examine our relationship with those who for whatever reason find themselves on the margins. Are we like Jesus, caregivers creating the environment in which those who find themselves on the margins can find salvation, for they too are children of Abraham [citizens of T&T]. They too have a right to God’s blessings; or are we among the complainers, those who spend their time condemning others. If we want a new Trinidad and Tobago we must create the environment in which others can become the best that they can be.

Prayer

All powerful and ever-loving God we thank you for the teaching which You give us in Jesus’ treatment of Zacchaeus. We thank You for those who following the example of Jesus Your son have time for others, especially those who are on the margins. Give us the graces which we need so that we can help others to become the best that they can be. We ask this through the intercession of Jesus your son and Mary our mother. Amen