Zacchaeus
Scripture Reading: Zeph. 3:9–13; 2 Tim. 2:11–19; Lk. 19:1–10
Reflections from a Monk
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit!
Zacchaeus in the gospel is a name that means God remembered, which is a heartfelt blessing of gratitude. Zacchaeus was a tax collector and pretty well-off, and so probably he would not take too kindly to Jesus’ message to the rich young man to go sell all you have. Yet here was Jesus in this town of wealthy landowners, traders, and travelers situated practically on the doorstep of Jerusalem. The walls of Jericho were destroyed in the distant past by Joshua, but the surviving town was still famous for its fragrant balsam trees and rose bush plantations. It is even mentioned in the psalms, though not by name, as a pleasant way-station for pilgrims on their way to the Temple. In contrast with religious and politically unruly Jerusalem nearby, Jericho seemed to be a city whose citizens were somewhat lost to religion, yet somewhat content with themselves.
Unfortunately Zacchaeus, with all his financial resources, could not buy his way into the temple or into social and religious acceptance among his own people—his very occupation was despised, since he was an employee of the occupying Romans, a sort of IRS collection agent. Yet he had all the perks of such a job, and he had access to a lot more funds than most anyone there, so people must have speculated cynically about what kind of honesty he had in his line of work. In any event, he certainly was despised by the Pharisees who were themselves cornered by perfectionist and ultimately impossible requirements as adherents of the strictest religious observance. But many of them also despised the ordinary person or family at the time, and considered them part of the lowly unsaved masses even though they were over-burdened by taxes, poverty, or illness.
And so here comes that Good Shepherd passing through all this and still on the lookout for the lost sheep of Israel.
Zacchaeus was excited at this new and unexpected event in a city full of jaded world travelers. So much so that he put aside all dignity and scampered up a tree with the children to see the popular preacher and healer for himself. In Zacchaeus’ case, just a look and a word from Jesus cut through all these social barriers—just as happens with the blind man and others who ask for just a word and they will be healed. Jesus spoke with the relaxed authority of honest truth, compassion, and experience as a person filled with the presence and power and spirit of God.
Jesus said “Come on down now—no time to be lost today—let’s eat and talk together.” To his credit, Zacchaeus jumped at the unexpected call by Jesus inviting himself to dinner—and he responded just with gracious hospitality. But when this exciting and gossip-worthy event was tainted by the grumblers standing around, when the host was threatened in his newly-found status with the loss of an opportunity to hobnob with the popular preacher, Zacchaeus proposed that this visit would be just fine. After all, everyone was aware of the message of repentance and fairness that John the Baptist had preached, and second, everyone knew the moral expectations of recompense in their own religious practice. And third, they knew by word of mouth what Jesus stood for. And because Zacchaeus was so at home in the financial world he responded on that level. In everyone’s hearing he suddenly showed his own latent good will and generosity. How could they complain about him now? —It was as if he said, “Take that, Jerusalem: we in Jericho know how to do the right thing!”
And in fact everything did change. Welcome and joy flowed. Divine grace and generous human good will revealed themselves with the outreach by Jesus and spontaneous reply by Zacchaeus.
There’s an old Latin saying, solvitur ambulando, “the thing will solve itself as you go on”: No accusations, no wrath of God, no preaching or miracles or fixing things up here or you must be born-again. No expectations to go sell what you have and come follow me. Not a lot of talk. Let’s just get together at your place. Jesus was just treating him as a compatriot, as an ordinary fellow Jew—well maybe not so ordinary—and Zacchaeus responded more readily than he himself or anyone had expected.
So the good shepherd came to the lost sheep—just simply lost, and not written off or hopeless or condemned or doomed—but lost on their way, in the wrong place at the wrong time, fearful and blind to any way out of their circumstances, just trying to survive and maybe even thrive. Now they are found.
Who knew then what would soon happen as Jesus would walk toward Jerusalem and Calvary?
Yet this Jericho story is still a happy one for us on our own way toward the Lenten season and the reliving of the paschal mysteries.
At the same time and along with this in today’s epistle we are left with a quick and mysterious teaching by St Paul when he writes to his disciple Timothy. He says just because someone does certain good works in the name of the Lord, does not mean they are necessarily filled with the Holy Spirit, or that they belong heart and mind to the Lord in the intimate depths of their soul: As Jesus said, “I know mine and mine know me!”—whoever and wherever they are. How deeply personal! How exquisite and powerful an expression of love… Last month we heard how beautifully St Paul expressed it when he wrote that I can even give up my body for the faith, but if I have not love, it is all just clanging brass. Do we dare face this in our silent moments, and wonder who we are living and dying for, and whether dying with him in order to live with him is really what we desire, and how can we accomplish this great love?
St Paul said to Timothy that the spiritual way we belong to was founded by Jesus alone, and so let’s stick to this, and to him, simply and clearly in our prayer and in our love for one another.
Christ is in our midst!