As with Zacchaeus, what tree do I need to climb in order to encounter the Lord more deeply?

During this jubilee year of mercy, we are invited to pray over the Gospel through the lens of mercy.  The story of Zacchaeus is our story as well.  How does the Lord encounter you in your life?  As was the case of Zacchaeus, what would it take for you to realize that you need the Lord?

It is worth noting in this Gospel account that both Jesus and Zacchaeus sought each other out.  Zacchaeus climbed the sycamore tree to get a better vantage point from which to see Jesus.  In turn, Jesus called forth Zacchaeus by name saying:  “Zacchaeus, come down quickly for today I must stay at your house.”  The joy is palpable between them.

The back story on Zacchaeus:  He was an unloved sinner.  He is not an attractive person.  He worked for the enemy as a Roman tax collector.  He had become a wealthy man, perhaps by overtaxing the poor.  His physical smallness matched the low esteem in which he was held. 

There was shadiness to this tax collector’s life.  He was a marked and hated by his fellow Jews.  Zacchaeus had taken advantage of people.  Then, and this is such a significant in his faith journey, there was a moment of awareness in Zacchaeus that is lifestyle led to loneliness and greediness.  He was coming to the awareness that there was more to life than getting rich by taking advantage of people. 

At this point, Zacchaeus just wanted to see Jesus.  And so, he climbed the sycamore tree hoping to catch a glimpse of Jesus who was going to be passing by.

The second  significant moment of grace in this Gospel account is when Jesus stopped and caught sight of Zacchaeus in the sycamore tree.  Jesus looked into his heart with love and invited him down as Jesus wished to come to his house today.  Zacchaeus, at that moment, experienced himself as loved by the Lord.  This beautiful moment of encounter with the Lord was a conversion moment in Zacchaeus.  Nothing would ever be the same.

This is our story as well when we experience ourselves as being loved by the Lord.  Nothing is ever the same.

Now notice the sharp contrast between Zacchaeus as he is the recipient of the Lord’s extravagant mercy and unconditional forgiveness, and the crowd of the so-called righteous who grumbled judgmentally at God’s mercy.   In this Gospel account, Jesus desired to save not only the sinner Zacchaeus, but Jesus wanted also to save the people who were so ready to condemn Zacchaeus.  As a sinner’s home became salvation’s house for Zacchaeus, Jesus was directing this message to the religious leaders of his day that God is extravagant in mercy and unconditional in the forgiveness of sins.  Instead of anger and violence and judgment, they are to proclaim to one and all the merciful love of God to people in need.

Who are the lost in the Gospel today?  Is it Zacchaeus who rejoices in the compassion and forgiveness of Jesus or is it the righteous who grumble that Jesus is staying at the house of a sinner?

Jesus is inviting Zacchaeus to experience repentance and to move forward into life and the fullness of life.  The folks who were accompanying Jesus were left grumbling at God’s mercy.

Where do find ourselves in this Gospel account as we gather for this celebration of the Eucharist.  Are we aware of our need to encounter the Lord as did Zacchaeus or are we more focused on our judgments on the worthiness or unworthiness of others?  Are we scandalized by the extravagance in which Jesus reaches out to others?

In the Gospel, Zacchaeus’ conversion journey began with his awareness that he wanted more of life that what his wealth provided him.  He had been isolated by his greed and wealth.  He wanted to experience the love he saw in the followers of Jesus.  This awareness of his need for the healing and forgiving love of God provides the fertile soil to experience the extravagance of God’s mercy.

As we gather for Eucharist, please God we too have that awareness of our need for God’s healing love.  If you recall last Sunday’s Gospel about another tax collector, his simple prayer:  “Lord, be merciful to me a sinner.”  Do we come before the Lord in a spirit of humility? 

I invite you as pray over this Gospel is to ask yourself the question:  What tree do I need to climb in order to encounter the Lord more deeply in my life? 

Maybe we need to climb the tree of humility.  What would that look like?  Beginning with ourselves, are we aware that the Lord already looks into our hearts with great love?  Do we believe that we are God’s beloved?  Do we love ourselves as God loves us?  There came to Zacchaeus that desire to encounter the Lord.  May we too have that awareness as we celebrate the Eucharist this morning?

Do we need to confess that there is a bit too much righteousness in us that leads us to grumble when others are showered with the extravagance of God’s love?   Are we a tad resentful with others that they don’t deserve the good fortune that our extravagant God provides them?

As we imagine ourselves as Zacchaeus in the Gospel account, may we be in touch with that side of ourselves that struggles to accept God’s unconditional love.  Initially it was Zacchaeus who was seeking Jesus.  Now Jesus is seeking Zacchaeus.  Jesus makes the bold proclamation:  Today salvation has come to this house.”  To put this in our language:  “Zach” got saved.  He was born again!

The power of this liturgy is that Jesus is speaking these same words to the Church of St. Joseph in Penfield, NY:  “Today salvation has come to this house.”

Z

Like Zacchaeus, may we live our lives with transformed hearts—taking the risk of being loved and healed and forgiven by the Lord.