A reading from the gospel according to Luke 19:1-10
1 At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town.
2 Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man,
3 was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature.
4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way.
5 When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.”
6 And he came down quickly and received him with joy.
7 When they saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.”
8 But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.”
9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham.
10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”
Reflection: Jesus wants to stay in our house.
Zacchaeus became a wealthy person as a chief tax collector for the Roman Empire. The people abhorred such kind of a job not only because of the corruption and abuses involved but also because it was unpatriotic. Yet within him lay a heart that was ready to be transformed. That was why when he heard about Jesus coming into town, he did everything to see who this miracle-performing man was. When he finally met Jesus, his life was never the same again.
There are several lessons to be learned here.
1. We seek Jesus only to find out that He is the one looking for us. As the Good Shepherd, He is willing to leave behind the 99 in order to look for the one who is lost. That is how much He loves us who are lost through our sinfulness.
2. An encounter with Jesus is transformative. Zacchaeus wanted only to have a glimpse of the man who was always the talk of the town. Yet when he met Him, his life made a 180-degree turn around. He is now a changed person.
3. Come down quickly. Zacchaeus was literally perched on the branches of a sycamore tree but as a wealthy man, he was also on top of his own world looking down on everyone else. For salvation to occur, he must lower himself.
4. Invite the King into our house. In the gospel story, it was Jesus who actually invited Himself to the house of Zacchaeus. JESUS WANTED TO STAY IN HIS HOUSE. For sure, Zacchaeus did not expect it but he agreed with JOY to receive Him even if he knew that his house was not prepared for the coming of an important guest. Perhaps the house was messy but that was no problem. Once Jesus was in, everything was put in order. The mess was transformed into a message of salvation.
5. People grumbled about Jesus going into the house of a sinner. People will always have something to say about anything and most of what they actually say is negative. Jesus and Zacchaeus did not mind what people had to say. Both of them were focused on the new day that had come to the house of Zacchaeus.
6. While there is life, there is hope for change. What happened to Zacchaeus will happen to anyone else. People can change. Sinners can become saints. There is hope for this world.
7. The change in the life of Zacchaeus was not only internal but also external. It involved a distribution or rather redistribution of his wealth which were mostly extorted from the people. Just imagine what happens if all the rich people today were to distribute their accumulated wealth. Can we work for policies that involve this kind of redistribution?
*****
The remarkable story of Zacchaeus, a tax collector in Jericho, is a prime example of how an encounter with Jesus can result to transformation. Zacchaeus was a man known not only for his wealth but also his reputation as a “sinner,” likely due to his work as a tax collector, which often involved corruption and unfair practices. Despite his status, Zacchaeus had a deep, unfulfilled longing in his heart, and he was curious about Jesus. This curiosity drove him to overcome his limitations — both social and physical.
When Jesus was passing through Jericho, Zacchaeus, being short, could not see over the crowd. But his desire to see Jesus was so strong that he climbed a sycamore tree. This action reveals Zacchaeus’s determination; he didn’t let his stature or reputation stop him. Sometimes, our faith requires us to overcome obstacles, to step out of our comfort zones, and to take that extra step, like Zacchaeus did, to catch a glimpse of Jesus.
As Jesus walked by, He looked up, saw Zacchaeus, and called him by name: “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” This moment is profound. Jesus didn’t ignore Zacchaeus or dismiss him because of his reputation. Instead, He initiated a relationship, showing Zacchaeus acceptance and love without hesitation. This simple gesture of Jesus noticing him and speaking his name must have touched Zacchaeus deeply. It shows us that Jesus sees beyond our labels, past our mistakes and failures, and looks straight into our hearts. Jesus wants to be with us, even when we feel unworthy or rejected.
The crowd reacted with judgment, murmuring that Jesus would “be the guest of a sinner.” But Jesus wasn’t interested in the opinions of the crowd. He had come to seek and save the lost, and in that moment, Zacchaeus was the one who needed His saving love. Sometimes we, too, can be held back by others’ opinions, by the crowd’s expectations. But Jesus shows us here that His love is personal and unconditional. He comes for each one of us, regardless of what others may say or think.
This encounter changed Zacchaeus forever. Touched by Jesus’s kindness and acceptance, Zacchaeus didn’t just return to his old ways. Instead, he stood up and declared, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Zacchaeus’s transformation was genuine; he was no longer driven by wealth or self-interest but by a newfound love for God and others. His actions reflected the sincerity of his repentance.
Jesus responded, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.” Here, Jesus restored Zacchaeus not only to Himself but also to his community. No longer defined by his past or his occupation, Zacchaeus found a new identity in Jesus. He was recognized as a true “son of Abraham,” a part of God’s family. This is the beauty of God’s grace. He doesn’t just forgive; He restores and renews us.
Zacchaeus’s story reminds us that transformation is always possible, no matter where we have been or what we have done. God’s love reaches us even when we feel undeserving, and His invitation to relationship is extended to each of us personally. Like Zacchaeus, we may face limitations, whether they are our own doubts, past mistakes, or the opinions of others. But if we choose to seek Jesus, to take those extra steps of faith, He will meet us, call us by name, and welcome us into His love.
Let this story inspire us to come before God with open hearts, willing to accept His grace and willing to change. May we, like Zacchaeus, experience the joy of being fully known and fully loved, and let our lives reflect that transformative love to the world around us.
