31st Sunday of Ordinary Time – Zacchaeus the Tax Collector (Lk 19: 1-10)

Zacchaeus the Tax Collector (Lk 19: 1-10)

Introduction

- The story that happened in the annual celebration of a Catechism class. A team prepared to stage a drama based on the story of Zacchaeus. On the day of the presentation they put up a small tree on the stage and asked Zacchaeus to go up on the tree. But the small boy who was to act as Zacchaeus told that he was afraid to appear in front of the public. “They are going to see me sitting on the tree when the curtain is opened. I am scared”. Though everyone pressed him to act he did not. At the end they changed him from the role of Zacchaeus at the last moment.

- Zacchaeus, though a rich man, never felt ashamed of running in front of the crowd and climbing on a tree.

- He received the result for his effort – the experience of Jesus.

Content

- This story can be summarized into four words (DADA) – desire & aware, decision & action.

- Desire

o To see Jesus.

o He must have heard of Jesus’ miracles, healings and other works.

- Aware

o When he had the desire to see Jesus he became aware of himself

o Awareness – He was a wealthy man, He was considered as a sinner by the Jewish community, He was short in stature, The crowd with toll people was a obstacle of his view of Jesus

- Decision

o At any cost I will see Jesus

o To be a decision it should be timely and according to the need of the situation.

o He was timely enough to take decision. He did not postpone his decision to see Jesus.

o At that hour he took the apt decision though it asks of humility.

- Action

o It can be divided into – actions before meeting Jesus and actions after meeting Jesus.

o Actions before meeting Jesus was – running in front of the crowd, climbing the tree and wait. The initiation is from the part of Zacchaeus. He was motivated by his own decision.

o Action after meeting Jesus was – distributing the wealth to the poor and other – the work of the Spirit of God. Here Zacchaeus allowed the spirit to work in him.

Conclusion

- The nature of Jesus is, “He passes through the way”. He is a passing God.

- He passes through our life in different situations (blessings, suffering, friends, homily, sacraments etc.) We should take initial effort to meet him.

- When we are ready to walk to Jesus one step He walks to us 10 steps.

We come to the Eucharist with “desire”. At the penitential rite we become “aware” of our weakness and His blessings. Let us also take decision to “meet Jesus at any cost” and do “action” accordingly. The rest Jesus will do.