Rev.
Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi
God
is at work. He works in ways that humans may find difficult to fathom. He is
able to make stones which are non-living things to cry out and praise him (cf.
Luke 19:40). God crosses and destroys the boundaries separating what humans
think as the clean and the unclean. The very second sentence of the First
Reading (Wisdom 11:22-12:2) tells us that God can do all things, and He
overlooks the sins of people that they may repent. The story of Zacchaeus leads
us to a greater knowledge of how God overlooks the sins of people. This is how our
God works. He can reach out to that person that has been rendered
insignificant. He can cuddle and saddle that person who has been branded a
sinner. From the dust he lifts up the lowly, from his misery he raises the poor.
The Lord lifts up all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down
(Psalm 145:14). He manifests great interest in the poor and the sinner.
In the Gospel (Luke
19:1-10), Jesus makes his journey into Jericho, the city that would usher him
into Jerusalem from where he ‘would not come out.’ Jesus has taught in many
cities and regions. He has performed many miracles, and so was well-known all
around the district. The people of Jericho must have also heard of him and all
the good things he has been doing. Little wonder, there were many people eager
to see him. There was a crowd, and each one desiring to get the attention of
Christ. However, it baffles me that Jesus’ attention was drawn to a man, Zacchaeus.
This man caught the attention of Christ. He climbed a tree to have a clearer
vision. Christ went straight to him, spoke to him, became his guest and
restored him to wholeness (salvation). There is indeed joy over one repentant
sinner. Jesus has come for the sinners and not for the righteous. Jesus knows
the one that needs Him the most, and not the ones that need him for integrity
or for raising of social status or class. Some were there to identify with
Christ so as to prove to others that they are people of class and ought to be respected,
where as some were there to identify with Christ because they are in need of
salvation.
a)
Appreciating the reaction and the virtues of Zacchaeus
Climbing
the sycamore tree
In his effort to see
Christ, Zacchaeus faced many challenges. First is the decision to join those
who are eager to meet with Christ. Remember, he was a man of great wealth, and
we know what wealth can do to the person. It can make one pompous, arrogant,
proud, and insensitive. These were most probably what Zacchaeus must have
conquered within himself having made the decision, which was very courageous to
come out in search of a glimpse of Christ. His height was a great challenge to
him. He was a man of small stature and this made it so difficult to see beyond
the person standing in front of him. And upon that, there was a great number of
people; a crowd. All these were faced by Zacchaeus and he never gave
up, but persisted in seeing Christ. He went beyond the crowd. He overcame the
shortcomings of his height, and sought for help. Many of us easily give up when
experiences of life challenge our faith. Zacchaeus surmounted all these
challenges, and then met Christ. He no longer had a glimpse of Christ, but became
his host. Hence, one can say that where as others were merely making efforts to
see Christ, Zacchaeus made an extra effort by climbing the tree.
Climbing the sycamore
tree can represent an ascent of faith. It can represent an ascetic endeavour to
meet Christ, since no climbing is devoid of work. Climbing the sycamore unveils
to us that a leap of faith is needed in our search for Christ. It also tells us
that some form of work is needed to be done. You need human effort to meet God.
Granted, God comes to us and stretches out his hands to help us; but we need to
go to him too and stretch out our hands to be helped. Our effort must go beyond
the ordinary.
Being
a host of Jesus
When Jesus told
Zacchaeus to climb down for he must stay in his house, Zacchaeus never
grumbled. He never made any revolting excuse or postponement. He accepted in
joy and happiness. Jesus needed to go to his house to give him a holistic
restoration. Being a host to Jesus gave Zacchaeus the opportunity to become a
saved person, and not just an interlocutor of Jesus. It gave him the
opportunity to examine his past life all these years and to reject fraud. Many of
us have tried to reject Jesus when he stays at our door post and knocks. Many have
given excuses to Jesus who continually desires us to be our host. One thing is
sure. If you host Jesus, he must expunge sins and vices from your life and
inject wholesomeness.
Giving
all he had
Behold, Lord, the half
of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I
restore it fourfold. These were the words of Zacchaeus. He gave practically all
he had. First, he promised to give out half of all he has. If he does this,
half will be left out. And remember, all he has comprises of what his job gave
him and the ill-gotten ones. From that half, he pays back in four-fold to all
he may have defrauded. If he does this, nothing practically remains. Hence, he
has given out all he has because he has encountered Christ. No one encounters
Jesus and remains the same. Encountering Christ must cost us something. However,
it is in losing our lives that we regain them, and anyone who lives earthly
possessions and follows the Lord will receive them in hundred fold. Many times,
we claim to have encountered the Lord; yet there is not yet any palpable
change. This is because we have so blocked our hearts against conversion. We claim
to be Christians; yet there is no spirit of generosity or charity in us. We are
stingy with the time, talents and treasures God gives us. We neglect others,
and even feed fat from their pockets. As those who are in-charge of one
particular group or another in the Church, how do you handle the donations of
people? Do you use church posts and positions as a means of defrauding others?
b)
Appreciating the action and the virtues of Jesus Christ
Spotting
out and going to Zacchaeus...
God sees the deepest
depths of our hearts. He knows those who really seek Him in spirit and in
truth. He goes to them. Amidst the number of people scrambling to see Jesus,
Jesus knew whom he needed to go to. He went straight to the short man. The wonderful
nature of our God is that he comes to us always. He desires to be our guest. He
desires to restore us. He desires to console us. He does not want to see us in
the pains of sin, or under the slavery of Satan. I pray that the Lord locates
you in your difficulties and in your search of him today, for the son of man
came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). If you consider yourself lost,
be hopeful, for the Lord is very much interested in you. He comes to you today.
Just be ready to come down from the sycamore tree.
Neglecting
the murmuring of the crowd
The crowd murmured on
seeing how Jesus was interested in Zacchaeus. They were murmuring because they
repudiated Zacchaeus. They were murmuring because some thought they were more
worthy to have a chat with Christ and to receive Christ in their homes. But the
action of Christ embarrassed their thoughts. Their murmuring meant nothing for
it was neglected. Divine visitation and restoration does not hinge on its
general acceptability by all. Zacchaeus was not moved by this crowd. The Lord
knows the best decision to take. However, if Zacchaeus was not strong enough,
he may have moved by the murmurings of these people. Thank God he was not moved
for he knew what he wanted from the Lord. When the Lord locates you, people
must murmur. When they murmur, the Lord remains steadfast to his will. He does
not change his divine plan due to these noise makers. And if the Lord remains
faithful, we must be faithful. We must build coatings around us to withstand
the pressures that come from the crowd. The crowd can represent distractions,
obstacles, bad advisers, and evil tormentors. Remember, if God is with us, even
if anyone be against us, he strives in vain. Do not always expect everyone to
be happy with you, even when you are doing the good. But you that murmur, I
enjoin you today to learn how to appreciate the good things God does in the
life of your brother; otherwise your murmur may be turned into torture.
Salvific
restoration
Today, salvation has
come to this house. Jesus’ stay with Zacchaeus and Zacchaeus host of Jesus, and
his acceptance of Jesus has made salvation to come to his entire household. The
presence of Jesus makes possible what is humanly impossible. He gives his
salvation to the broken hearted. He not only gained conversion but also
salvation. That is the highest possession. He is now free to fly beyond the
skies since he has no other entanglements. He has freed himself of all
distractions and has accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord. Thus, he becomes a son
to the father of faith. He too is a son of Abraham. This means that all of us
are in the pale of God’s chosen people. We are all God’s children. Zacchaeus
has now been made clean, which is actually what his name means.
Yes, God raises the
lowly to shame the strong (Luke 1:52). He can draw water with a basket to shame
the bucket. Let no one think that God does not love the other person beside
him/her. God can select the stupid to stupefy the wise. May we reflect on these
words as I wish you a blessed week ahead. God bless you.
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