I, Zacchaeus

For most of us the story of Zacchaeus is one of our earliest biblical memories. I can only assume this is because of the annoyingly catchy song that we all grew up singing (Zacchaeus was a wee little man). And for most of us, we had the same bland themes drummed into our heads: Jesus loves everybody, Jesus is willing to seek us out, Jesus was a friend of sinners, and so on.

Those themes are all present in this story but to say that the story of Zacchaeus is about ‘Jesus loving everybody’ is like saying that Harry Potter is the tale of a boy who got bullied by his cousin. There is so much more to the story. We tend to focus on Jesus when we read stories from the gospel – which is understandable. The real spiritual exercise for the Zacchaeus story, however, is found in the character of Zacchaeus himself.

Before we go any further, let’s take a minute to refresh ourselves on the story (Luke 19:1-10).

Jesus comes to visit the town of Jericho. There lives a man named Zacchaeus who is a sinful, tax collector and who is also very short. Zacchaeus is curious about this Jesus character and wants to get a look at Him; the only problem is that there is a large crowd and Zacchaeus is short. So, to solve the problem Zacchaeus runs ahead and climbs a Sycamore tree. Out of everyone assembled that day, Jesus singles out Zacchaeus the sinner and invites Himself over to Zacchaeus’ house for dinner.

If we focus solely on Jesus then yes, the theme is that of Jesus seeking out the sinner, the lost sheep, the lost coin, etc. But we must place ourselves in the shoes of Zacchaeus if we truly wish to grow.

 It’s easy to picture Jesus seeking us out. It’s a comforting thought and it’s true; God is constantly seeking relationship with us. If that’s all we learn from the story, however, then we are headed for disappointment. If our approach to the spiritual life is to sit back, kick up our feet and wait for God to come find us then we are setting ourselves up to fail. More importantly, if that’s our approach then we didn’t learn anything from the story of Zacchaeus.

Remember: Zacchaeus is short. Rarely if ever, do we see the gospel writers go to such great lengths to emphasize someone’s physical characteristics. There is a reason why they accentuate his height. It is a stumbling block that prevents him from encountering Jesus. 

What things prevent you from encountering Jesus?

Maybe you are struggling to pay attention to the gospel and the homily because of a new baby. Maybe you are having trouble forgiving a family member and often find your quiet time disrupted by irritated thoughts about the situation. Maybe you are angry at God because you have suffered tragedy or loss. Whatever it is that may be hindering you, it puts you squarely in the place of Zacchaeus – so learn from him.

Don’t sit back and wait for God to break down your door. Don’t cross your arms defiantly and wait for a miracle to bring you back into the fold. God is searching for you always, but He won’t force Himself against your will. Put yourself in a place – physically and spiritually - where you can encounter Him. Keep in mind, it may not be easy.

The story of Zacchaeus implies a certain level of physical exertion. They use the verbs ‘run’ and ‘climb’ when they describe Zacchaeus’ efforts to encounter Jesus. Don’t overlook this detail: Zacchaeus must work to make it happen. It’s easy to become frustrated, especially if you have tried and failed in the past, but Jesus is speaking to you through this gospel.

Jesus is reaching out to you in the promise He gives to Zacchaeus – the promise He is extending to you, this very second. “Today salvation has come to this house, because this person, too, is a child of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what is lost.” – Luke 19:9-10

Jesus is waiting.

Find your tree and begin your climb.