(Lk.19:1-10)
In today’s Gospel, we read about a very moving encounter between Jesus and a notorious tax collector. Zacchaeus was hated by his people because of the work he did and because of the way he did it. Not only that he worked for the Roman colonizers but also collected exorbitant taxes. He was fattening himself at the expense of his countrymen. There was a great feeling of hostility towards him.
It was at such a moment in his life that he heard about Jesus and his journey through his village. There was the grace of God working in his heart. He wanted acutely to see Jesus. He forgot all about the feelings people had about him. He knew this was the moment. He did not want to lose the occasion nor wait for another day. As he was short of stature, he climbed a sycamore tree to get a good view of Jesus.
Seeing Jesus would fill his heart. It is not money that was going to fill his heart any more. This vision of Jesus would be more precious to him than any of the taxes he would collect in his life. He saw Jesus and saw him to his heart’s delight. He heard His words and saw His interactions with His disciples. He felt an indescribable joy flooding his heart. He knew that this moment would change his life. All of a sudden he saw Jesus looking up to him and heard Jesus calling out his name: “Hurry down , Zacchaeus, because I must stay in your house today.”
We can never fathom the feelings of joy and excitement that ran through his heart. Jesus was going to stay with a man hated by the people of his time! It seemed to be an unbelievable moment for the disciples and on-lookers. The Prophet, the Son of God, the one who was never thought to be associating with sinners was going to spend a day with a person considered a sinner and an object of contempt and derision by the people of his time. But it was happening before their eyes. The most holy person and the most sinful person were going to spend the day together.
But change had happened in the heart of Zacchaeus the moment his eyes were laid on Jesus. The desire to see Jesus already transformed his heart. His heart began to melt. He was willing to sacrifice everything to see Jesus. He did not mind mixing with the crowd or hearing their derisive whispers provided he would get a moment to spend with Jesus. The meaning of his name was “righteous.” Until the moment he saw Jesus, he was unrighteous. The vision of Jesus changed him drastically. He began to lead a life true to the meaning of his name.
H did not ask for any great favor. He did not ask Jesus to spend even a moment with him. He just wanted to see Jesus. That vision was anything more than he wished in his life. That vision of Jesus was more than the value of all the wealth he accumulated in his life. Things were happening very fast in his life. Money and wealth all lost its sheen and glamour for him. What was more important was to be a follower of Jesus, to be a recipient of his love. He announced forthwith that he would give a fourfold restitution of all the property that he acquired by evil means. He would give half of his property to the poor. The response of Jesus was magnificent and beautiful to this great change happening in the life of this public sinner: “Salvation has come to this house.”
It is the desire to see Jesus and to experience his presence that changed the life of Zacchaeus. Our desire for Jesus would change the nature and direction of our lives. We have to desire for the presence of Jesus in our heart as he did. Everything else in life should become secondary to the presence of Jesus in our heart. What often happens is that we never allow Jesus to transform our lives. Jesus is kept on the periphery of our lives. The moment he takes possession of our heart, transformation would happen in our lives. Our arrogance, selfishness and hardheartedness would disappear once we surrender ourselves to Jesus.
This encounter should also remind us that however unworthy we are, Jesus would not abandon us. We may think that because of our sins we won’t be considered worthy of the love of Jesus. No one is out of the ken of the providence, the compassion and the love of Jesus. We are all under his protection and love. Our unworthiness makes us more worthy of His love and compassion. That is the most consoling thought we get from this encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus: “ The son of man came to seek and to save the lost.”
As Archbishop Sheen has remarked in his book “The Eternal Galilean”: “For only those who walk in darkness can ever see the stars.” Our unworthiness opens our hearts to the flow of divine grace. May the Lord who came to spend a day with Zacchaeus stay always in our hearts and help us to be reflect His love in our dealings with others.
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