Jesus and Zacchaeus

Zacchaeus in today’s Gospel is one of the many Biblical characters, who will be etched in our memory because of his instant response to Jesus’ invitation.

The Gospel states that Zacchaeus ‘wanted to SEE what Jesus was like’. Is our approach the same when we celebrate Holy Eucharist, during our personal time with the Lord, when we are engaged in our daily chores, when we care for our elders, when doing ministry work or when we just reach out to someone known or unknown? A fervent desire of wanting to SEE our Lord, our Maker?

In order to see Jesus, Zacchaeus got into ACTION – ‘he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree’. Are we also willing to make the effort to read Holy Scriptures, to set a time daily to just sit before the Lord, to make an attempt to help someone without any expectations, but just as a thanksgiving to our Lord, our Maker?

The Gospel further tells us that Jesus CALLED Zacchaeus by his name. Now we may not audibly hear the Lord calling out, but we surely will feel a sense of joy and gratitude to our Lord each time we do any of the above or do anything else with a clean and pure heart, just like Zacchaeus – whose name in Hebrew means ‘clean and pure’.

And the ultimate reward for us all will be like that of Zacchaeus – the SALVATION of our souls, which is what every sinner longs for and is the reason why Jesus walked the earth.