Lk.19:1-10
“The very first step toward change is to believe that you can. You don’t have to stay the way you are because God is a God of change and transformation. He can bring change to your life and bring the best out of you. ” (Brian Houston) In today’s gospel we come across Jesus’ visit to Jericho. Apparently, it might appear to us that this visit of Jesus was by chance. However, his encounter with Zacchaeus proves that it was not a random visit but by his choice. Zacchaeus is presented as the leader of the tax collectors as well as a wealthy man of the town. The mere fact that he was a tax collector was enough for the Jews to consider him a sinner because of his close allegiance with the Romans, who were considered national oppressors.
Zacchaeus had the desire to meet Jesus. The name Zacchaeus means’ God remembers.’ Jesus did not take for granted his desire to meet him. He remembered Zacchaeus and made this journey to meet him. Jesus’ name and fame could have spread over there by this time. Zacchaeus had a few barriers to fulfilling his heartfelt desire to meet Jesus. First and foremost, he was short in stature. Secondly, Jesus was always surrounded by a large multitude. As a result, approaching Jesus was not an easy task. However, Zacchaeus was not ready to give up on his ardent desire to meet Jesus. His short stature and the intense crowd were no longer a barrier or limitation to him. It was this zeal that made him climb the tree. Even in his wildest of imaginations, he would not have thought that Jesus would stop him and call out his name. The gesture of calling out the name of ‘Zacchaeus’ tells us that Jesus’ journey to Jericho was not mere coincidence but by his choice to seek out the lost sheep in the person of Zacchaeus. He not only called his name, he even visited his house and dined with him. Jesus removed all social and spiritual stigmas that had been placed on Zacchaeus.
The presence of Jesus in his life and house transformed the person of Zacchaeus. The tax collectors were commonly termed as “greedy robbers” because of their corruption. Zacchaeus was ready to give away even half of his entire wealth to the poor people and four times more to those whom he cheated because he found the real treasure in the person of Jesus. Jesus tells him that salvation has come to his house today. Jesus makes himself clear that he has come to seek the lost.
As we meditate on this passage, let us be aware that however sinful we are, far away from his grace, we are not beyond his redemption. The sole purpose of his salvific mission is to become hope for the so-called last, the least, and the lost. The life story of Zacchaeus teaches us that, like the prodigal son, when we take the first step towards God, he runs and embraces us with his merciful heart. Whether we are close or far from him, that doesn’t matter to him. He will come in search of you and find you and call you by name and take you to the green pastures where he gives us the living water. Let us ardently trust in his shepherding love and continue our life journey with this hope.