Have you ever been to a parade, a concert or a sports event where all that was visible in the direction of the stage was a sea of hats and banners and maybe some bald heads? Well, today’s story is about such a situation. A man went to a parade but being short he couldn’t see the main attraction. He’d heard it was a man who had become quite famous for performing miracles. This man, Jesus was his name, was passing through Jericho, the town where Zacchaeus lived. And, Zacchaeus REALLY wanted to see Jesus! But he was small of stature, and he didn’t have a step stool or a periscope. Quite a contrast with the story in this morning’s (Saturday) Gospel about people who were assuming to take the honorable places at table.
Zacchaeus ran on ahead of Jesus and the moving crowd to a spot where he climbed a sycamore tree so he could get a good view. Now, I’ve read that the city codes did not allow the planting of sycamore trees within the city limits. They had to be planted at least 75 feet outside the city walls. So, Zacchaeus had to run past everyone in town to climb up that tree. Jesus arrives under the tree, makes eye contact with Zacchaeus and communicates to him how glad he was to see Zacchaeus. Jesus knew everything there was to know about Zacchaeus and his fraudulent tax collection practices. Yet, He loved him and had compassion on him “briers and all.” What a picture of grace! That’s how it is for us, too. Jesus knows everything there is to know about us, but He still loves each of us.
The other day I came across my notes on this Gospel from 2010. We would have been deep into the planning process for the big move to this monastery building. My jottings based on Margaret Wheatley’s book TURNING TO ONE ANOTHER continue to speak to us today in this post-pandemic season. I wrote: “I see our community, climbing a tree to get a glimpse of Jesus and a vision for our future. We know change won’t happen overnight, but we also know that the future is germinating in the NOW.”
Wheatley reminds us: “There is no power greater than a community discovering what it cares about. Ask what is possible, not what’s wrong? Be intrigued by differences. Expect to be surprised. Treasure curiosity more than certainty. Invite everybody who cares, to work on what’s possible. Stay together. Know that creative solutions come from new connections. Remember, you don’t fear people whose story you know. Trust, that meaningful conversations can change the world.”
Isn’t that the message Jesus had for Zacchaeus? “Come down quickly for today I must stay at your house.”
“Come down quickly!” How many times does Jesus have to tell us just that? Come down off your high horse; come down from your stubborn opinions; come down from your unreasonable expectations, come down from your self-elevation above your confreres. How comforting, reassuring is Jesus reason for asking us to come down: “So I might stay at your house tonight.”
We must come down out of our “trees” of isolation, aloneness, self-satisfaction. And, while we are together at table with Jesus, let’s practice Wheatley’s advice: “Rely on human goodness. Stay together. Talk to people you know and those you don’t know and those you never talk to. Be brave enough to start of conversation that matters. Assume that many others share your dreams.” (Adapted from Wheatley)
An interesting part of the Zacchaeus story is that, as far as we know, Zacchaeus did not change jobs after his encounter with Jesus. He did not join the entourage that traveled with Jesus. He was a tax collector before he met Jesus, and it seems he continued collecting taxes after he met Christ. His job was the same, but his destiny was different.
The text says Zacchaeus was “seeking” Jesus. But if I read the story right, Jesus really was seeking Zacchaeus. He came to seek and save all the lost. Zacchaeus tried to climb up to God, but he didn’t get past the lowest branches. While other folks look up for Jesus, Zacchaeus climbed up in order to lo down. In this instance, it was Jesus who looked up. Jesus beckoned Zacchaeus to come down and invited Himself to dinner. Jesus invites Himself here, to each of us, today and every day with the same the message He spoke to Zacchaeus: “Come down; salvation has come to your house. I want to dine with you this night. Looking up Jesus said: Come down quickly for today I must stay at your house.”
~by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB
Listen to the ditty on You Tube of the children’s hymn: “Zacchaeus Was a Wee Little Man” – Be forewarned: it may leave you humming and toe-tapping the rest of the day …
Have an enjoyable Halloween, pleasant All Saints’ Day and pleasant memories as you recall family who have gone before you in faith on All Souls’ day.
You are invited, if you have not already done so, to send us the names of deceased relatives and friends to be remember throughout November … those lists are placed in a basket before our altar throughout the month.
May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace!
First Reading Wisdom 11:22—12:2
Second Reading 2 Thessalonians 1:11—2:2
Gospel Reading Luke 19:1-10
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