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The Gospel story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19 is read with Wisdom 11 on the Sunday cycle Year C (a cycle that rotates the Gospels over a 3 year period) and read with Revelation 3 on the weekday reading.  These readings together demonstrate the mercy of God. Most of us know the story of this short-statured, wealthy tax collector who climbs a sycamore tree to see Jesus.  We are familiar with the self-righteous crowd who grumble that Jesus chooses to have dinner at the house of a sinner, but we are not used to seeing how much we are like Zacchaeus.

Zacchaeus makes a startling choice. He runs ahead of the crowd, but instead of simply doing that and then standing in the middle of road where he would eventually cross paths with Our Lord, he climbs a tree.  Zacchaeus feels the calling, the pulling toward something new and better, and strongly desires it, yet he is not ready to get up close to Our Lord.  Well aware of his sins, he does not want to be inspected too closely. 

Each of us has had this experience at some time in our lives.  We have all sat in the tree wanting what Our Lord offers, but not feeling forgivable. We have all had moments where we felt so unworthy and so ashamed of ourselves that we did not want to go to Confession out of fear and embarrassment at what the priest might say.  Reflecting on the first reading, “But you have mercy on all, because you can do all things; and you overlook people’s sins that they may repent” (Ws 11:23), we realize this is exactly how Jesus approaches Zacchaeus.  Jesus sees his longing and his fear and walks up to the tree and extends an invitation. One might think that Jesus is inviting Himself to dinner, but what He is actually doing is inviting Zacchaeus back into the community that Zacchaeus has lost through his sin. He gives back to Zacchaeus his human dignity and respect, telling both Zacchaeus and the grumblers that Zacchaeus is not only loved, but treasured: “For you love all things that are and loathe nothing that you have made.” (Ws 11:24) Zacchaeus responds to Our Lord’s call with repentance (Lk 19:8) and joy.

Like Zacchaeus, Jesus meets us where we are: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” (Lk 19:10)  Once we have been found, we are invited to journey with Him. Our journey is one of continuing conversion, constantly striving to know Him better and love Him more. One sure sign that we have climbed back up in the tree is a lack of peace in our lives.  The events going on around us and in the news are unsettling and do require a great deal of prayer, but they should not make us live in fear.

How do we transform our spiritual lives so that we not small boats being tossed among the waves, but instead submarines in the deep water, unfazed by the storm far above?  We need to increase our trust in Him.  This starts with a good Confession.  Are we saying to ourselves “Well I have nothing to confess,” or “I confess the same sins every week”?  If so, this is an invitation to go into the deep water. Sin includes what I have done, said, or thought, as well as the good that I failed to do.  Inviting the Holy Spirit to reveal these things to us is the way to uncover what is keeping us bobbing about the surface. Personally, I am amazed at what the Holy Spirit reveals to me, not only where I have fallen short, but also how it has affected others.  He gives me the ability to experience remorse and gives me a firm purpose of amendment.  And I am forgiven.  Even when I approach Him with trepidation, He meets me with open arms.  I can trust Him.  Every time.  It is this continual experience of revealing myself and still being met with unconditional love that builds up my trust in Him. It is this trust that is the source of peace.

This is the peace Jesus offers Zacchaeus when He says, “Today salvation has come to this house.” Jesus also asks to dine with us: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Rv 3:20) What are you waiting for? Open the door.