Today we meet another tax collector in Jericho—Zacchaeus was the unpopular post holder in that busy town. I love this man because I can identify so closely with him. I am no accountant, nor do I live in a beautiful town in Judea—I am not particularly fond of sycamore trees, but I am short! This busy agent of the Roman government is keen to meet Jesus. He is keen to see what the fuss is all about. Because of his size, he would be unable to see over the heads of those greeting Jesus. I also feel that as a hated official, Zacchaeus would not have wanted to be seen identifying with the others. He would want to remain aloof and apart, as he had a position to uphold. Thus, he runs ahead and hides in the sycamore tree—he is free up here, free from all the accusing glares of his fellow citizens. He is safe until Jesus stops under that very tree, he points up and asks him very simply, 'Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today!' In front of the whole town, he is shown to be a secret admirer of Jesus. Jesus ignores the synagogue officials, and the religious elite and makes an option for this public sinner. He is going to do the unthinkable and have a meal with this man and his family.

Zacchaeus has made his own options: by working with the army of occupation, he has freely cut himself off from those around him. Now, however, he is being invited to eat with the Master. Like the tax collector from last week, he is going home at rights with God. This week, in a beautiful twist, God is going home with him. The onlookers are furious that Jesus should choose to break bread and share wine with this all too obvious public sinner—one who has used his unique position to extort his tax base.

Bringing Jesus into his home has deep implications for Zacchaeus: this acceptance means that his lifestyle has to change. Conversion and reconciliation are more than just words for him—he has to repay those he has cheated. His life is open to change, a change that is transformative because, as Jesus tells him, 'Salvation has come to this house.' Zacchaeus did not need months of RCIA to help him understand the faith. He has experienced the loving gaze of a God of love, as Jesus looked straight into his eyes in that sycamore tree. We see the conversion of Zacchaeus towards a life of goodness. During the coming week, we will have a unique opportunity to do those acts of random kindness that are tangible signs of our own conversion. Today's gospel proves that all of us can have a change of heart. There is no fear here, just total love—this transformation is beautifully expressed by the late Flor McCarthy SDB:

After his encounter with Jesus, Zacchaeus' heart bursts into life like a desert landscape after a rainfall…All of us stand in daily need of such conversion. We need to move from a closed heart to an open heart, from a heart of stone to a heart of flesh.

Zacchaeus, like so many misfits in the gospel, is caught up in that overwhelming heart of Jesus. Down though time, we are reminded just how great that love actually is. We are all well aware of the famous prayer of St Francis that sums up our Christian faith, as we strive to be 'instruments of peace.' We realise that it is in giving that we receive, that we must bring love to situations of hatred, that we encourage faith in times of doubt, and 'it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.' Francis of Assisi knew what it was to live the paschal mystery—he knew that his faith would make demands. In the spirit of the beatitudes, he embraced total poverty, rejecting his own personal power and wealth. As of follower of Christ who sought to rebuild a broken Church—he was prophet of his age, reminding the Pope and hierarchy of their need to be truly spiritual. Growing up in a wealthy family, Francis led a life that was privileged, with little thought for his social inferiors. While his journey to repentance and conversion unfolded over several stages, a pivotal moment occurred one day while Francis was praying before a crucifix at a run-down church. He heard Christ speak to him from the crucifix: 'Francis, go and rebuild my Church.' Francis could not reform the whole Church, but he could make a difference in this tiny part of the globe. Single-handedly he was able to re-create a fitting place of worship—this rebuild became a metaphor for his need to help the universal Church return to its roots in the teaching and message of Jesus. As the Chinese proverb has it: "the greatest journey begins with a single step". Zacchaeus made that single step today as response to generosity was generosity. Any 'rebuilding' of the Church today can only start with each of us taking a single step towards repentance and renewal in our own hearts.

Author: Fr Gerry O'Shaughnessy SDB

Photo by Jeremiah Lawrence on Unsplash