November 3, 2013
31st Sunday of the Ordinary Time C
Daily Mass Reading - Audio
Desire to See Jesus
Jesus was never impressed by figures and percentages. In the story of the Lost Sheep, the shepherd put 99% of his stock at risk for the sake of 1%. God is the Good Shepherd and He is Almighty. And in the story of the two men who went up to the Temple to pray the Pharisee had all his figures ready, “I fast twice a week; I give 10% of all I possess.” But it got him nowhere. Meanwhile the tax-collector at the back had no such balance-sheet ready, and “he went home at rights with God.”
But in today’s story we have a tax-collector giving his figures! “I give half of my goods to the poor and if I have cheated anyone I repay him fourfold.” He did not realize how unnecessary it was to quote figures. Jesus just ignored these figures and said, “Today salvation has come to this house. The Son of Man did not come looking for good bargains or sound investments, but for people who were lost. God is beyond all calculations because, as the Wisdom says, “For the entire world before you is like a grain that tips the scales, or like a drop of morning dew on the ground. ..God has compassion on all, because all is His”.
The story of Zacchaeus is a very famous and familiar story in the Bible. Jesus is travelling through southern Palestine on his way to Jerusalem. This trip will culminate in his death and resurrection. As he journeys, Jesus makes the most of every opportunity to do ministry. Jericho, a rich agricultural town and popular resort for royalty and priests, was in Jesus’ path. Zaccheus was one of the last people Jesus met before his death. Their encounter illustrates how Jesus can transform a person from the inside out.
It is interesting to note the kind of reputation that a chief tax collector like Zaccheus might develop in a town like this! The Romans farmed out the task of collecting the taxes in any particular area to the highest bidder. The man did not receive any salary for his work but collected as much money as he could so that he would have a handsome rake-off after paying the government the appointed sum. Since they extorted money from their own people Tax collectors were despised by all including their own people.
Zaccheus is not just a tax collector but a chief tax collector. That means that the corruption with him is at the top notch, as Luke's Gospel explains, ‘he is rich!’ But he wants to see Jesus. He is short and cannot see over the crowds, so he climbs a tree. When Jesus arrives at the place where Zaccheus has perched himself, he calls him down and invites himself to Zaccheus' home simultaneously bringing Zaccheus joy and, at the same time, scandalizing the crowd because they know Zaccheus as a branded sinner.
Among the various details in this story told only by Luke, three stand out. First, issight which is critical. In the passage immediately before this one, a blind man receives sight and, in response, follows Jesus and glorifies God. Now Zaccheus desires to see Jesus, that is, to have ‘sight.’ But even as he is trying to catch a glimpse of this prophet, Jesus looks up, calls him down, and honours him by coming to stay at his home. Ultimately it happens as in every situation, what St. Paul said, “The name of Jesus glorified through you and you through him”.
A second significant detail is wealth. Luke, more than any other evangelist, is consistently concerned about matters of wealth and, correspondingly, treatment of the poor. In the story of a rich man, when he was asked to give away all he had, he departs Jesus in sadness. In contrast, here this rich man receives Jesus with joy and promises to give half of his wealth to the poor and promises to restore fourfold any amount he may have defrauded. Heightening the joy and peace in the family, Jesus announces that the impossible has now happened as "salvation has come to this house".
Finally, Zaccheus is short, not just in physical stature, but also in terms of his moral standing among his neighbours who despised him which was expressed in their reaction when Jesus decided to go to Zaccheus' home. This is not the first time bystanders have been outraged by Jesus' behaviour. Think of Simon's reaction when Jesus allowed a woman known to have a poor reputation to wash his feet with her tears or that of the Pharisees to the sinners and tax collectors who love to listen to Jesus.
In the present story, notice that Jesus called this chief tax collector by name:"Zaccheus, come down; for I must stay at your house today." There is both intentionality and urgency in Jesus' summons. From the outset of Luke's gospel and throughout its narrative, Jesus sides with those on the margin, those not accounted as much in the eyes of the world., counted as nothing, even as worse than nothing. By seeing Zaccheus, known as a sinner and despised by all, calling him, staying with him, and blessing him, Jesus declares that this one, even this chief tax collector, is a child of Abraham - a child of God.
This story further evidences the manifold possibilities present in Jesus' presence. Thus, almost everything in this story seems impossible - that a chief tax collector would want to see Jesus; that Jesus would stay in his home; that the sinner confesses his sins publicly; that he announces the reparation for his mistakes; that Jesus would declare not just him but his whole household saved! Jesus has earlier declared that what is impossible for mortals is nevertheless possible for God. Perhaps Zaccheus is one more example of the impossible possibility that Jesus embodies and regularly manifests.
Again, Zaccheus simply represents the chief attribute of all disciples: a desire to see Jesus and a corresponding joy in his master’s presence. Zaccheus cannot see Jesus because he is too short, both physically and morally, and so the crowds impede his sight. Yet this rich chief tax collector is so desperate to see that he will not be deterred. He is even ready to be humiliated himself by climbing a tree like a child in order to glimpse over the crowd and see Jesus. This story is not about formulas regarding repentance and forgiveness. Rather, it embodies the promise that anyone who desires to see Jesus will. More than that, anyone who desires to see Jesus will, in turn, be seen by Jesus and in this way has their joy made complete.
Our Lord told Zaccheus, “Today salvation has come to this house.” Salvation comes where Jesus goes. Now today, this day, Jesus has come to this house, this chapel, full of sinners right here. Salvation is here, because our Saviour is here. And, like Zaccheus, we receive him joyfully! The joy of Zaccheus is our joy too. For in Zaccheus truly was a “we” - little man with a great big Saviour.
There are people like Zaccheus who seem to possess everything this world holds in value and esteem. These people are looked upon by others as being successful. Perhaps you have even been jealous of someone who you thought had more than you did. Sometimes, we may seem happy and successful, but deep down inside us, something may found to be missing. Remember then what Zaccheus did and Jesus has exactly what we needed. If we go to Him, as He passes by, He will take care of that thing that we lack. He will save us; give us life in abundance regardless of who we are, where we have been or what we have done. Let nothing stand between us and Jesus Christ now on.
No matter how tall or how short we are, no matter how rich or how poor, whether we are up in a tree or out on a limb, if we know we would be lost without him, then Jesus is looking for you today. “For, the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
How have you experienced the seeking or saving power of Jesus in your life? What are some ways Jesus has changed you? How can you be a witness to Jesus’ transforming power in your life?
Dr. John Ollukaran CMI
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