Zacchaeus the Tax Collector

Today's Reflections

Zacchaeus the Tax Collector 

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Lk 19:1-10

¹[Jesus] came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. ²Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, ³was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. ⁴So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. ⁵When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” ⁶And he came down quickly and received him with joy. ⁷When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” ⁸But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” ⁹And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. ¹⁰For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”

Reflection:

He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner. We can learn two things from Zaccheus.

First, his determination to see Jesus despite the odds. He is a tax collector, considered a public sinner or law offender, a traitor to the Jews, a collaborator of the Romans, an outcast. Being small in stature, he opens himself to public ridicule and insult when he climbs a sycamore tree to get a good view of Jesus. He is determined to seek out Jesus and does his best to see him. He is aptly rewarded as Jesus is now making the effort to know him.

Second, his sincerity to welcome Jesus. Zacchaeus does not hide his shameful past. He admits his sins and is sorry, and is manifesting to the community that he is truly converted by making restitution. He uses his wealth to make reparations. Having received much from Jesus, Zacchaeus wants to give back to others.

Jesus is always passing by.

He desires to be our special guest

in our hearts and homes.

The true experience of Jesus

should lead us to a change of heart.