Homily for the Week of November 3, 2013

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2013
Wisdom 11:22--12:1
Psalms 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14
2 Thessalonians 1:11--2:2
Luke 19:1-10

How many times have we judged and found ourselves to be wrong? We often have a very hard time accepting a core American belief that a person is innocent until proven guilty. We see this especially when we read the stories of trials of individuals whom we may know. We easily make a judgment on the basis of of limited and incomplete information,

Today, like last Sunday, Jesus tells us a story about a tax collector. As I mentioned last Sunday tax collectors were hated, and chief tax collectors were the most hated. Tax collectors kept a percentage of the taxes they collected as a salary. If a tax collector wanted a raise he could simply overestimate the amount of taxes owed and then keep his legal cut and the illegal overage.

Today we are told about a tax collector whose name is Zaccheaus. He is a short guy who wants to see Jesus. He lived and was a tax collector in Jericho, not the Jericho on the Rand Hill Road, but Jericho which is about 23 miles from Jerusalem. Persons who lived in Jericho were among the wealthiest Jews and Romans. Jericho was the vacation resort for the wealthy Jews and Romans. It is perhaps the oldest city in the world dating to about 4000 years ago, and the lowest city on earth at 770 feet below sea level. It was known for its palm trees and also for the balsam trees. It was said that the smell of balsam perfumed the air for miles around Jericho. Wealth meant lots of taxes. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector so he also got a cut from the other tax collectors. He had become rich by filling his own pockets with money extorted in his work. But he was also hated. He collected taxes for the Roman military government which was occupying Palestine.

Like last Sunday’s Bible story Jesus seemed to be hanging out with people considered unacceptable by the rest of the community, especially by the religious leaders. The people who could afford to live or vacation in Jericho were not the sort who were looking for what Jesus had to offer.

But Zacchaeus was missing something. He was missing someone. Despite his great wealth and his important position in the government, Zacchaeus was poor, and he knew it. He was a prisoner of his self-centered life. He was looking for someone to set him free. But he was a short man. He needed to see Jesus but could not because of his size. So acts in a most unbecoming way. He climbs a sycamore tree. When Jesus sees how far out on a limb Zacchaeus has gone, Jesus calls out to him: COME DOWN QUICKLY, FOR TODAY I MUST STAY AT YOUR HOUSE. Grumbling and criticism of Jesus for staying with a sinner immediately follow. But the risk Jesus takes for Zacchaeus is worth it. And Zacchaeus came down the tree.

But when Jesus reached out to him, Zacchaeus changed. The people had judged Zacchaeus to be the worst of all tax collectors. But then, when they stood with Jesus, they discovered the error of their judgment. The crowd had judged and condemned the man based on what they thought they knew, not on the truth. Once at his house Zacchaeus confesses to Jesus. He wasn’t the bad person everyone thought he was. His wealth was not an obstacle to holiness. He gave half of his possessions to the poor. If he had extorted money from anyone he would give 4 times what he might have taken. Jesus does not ask Zacchaeus to leave behind his profession nor to give away the rest of his possessions. Rather, he meets him in the place of his seeking and opens up a saving way forward within his circumstances.

Might there be a little Zaccheaus in each of us?. Though Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, it is Jesus who sees him first, and invites himself to his house. In seeking to find Jesus we are often found by him. Jesus often told us that he came to seek and to find the lost. But Zacchaeus is also found because he was willing to be laughed at by others. Jesus celebrates a conversion. Zacchaeus is praised by Jesus, not necessarily for practicing any particular Christian virtue, but by living up to the Law of Moses and Abraham.

Like Zaccheaus each of us are wealthy in many significant ways--in our life and talents, in our opportunities, in our friendships, in our Catholic faith. And so we need to ask ourselves whether we are as generous as was Zacchaeus in using our gifts. Most people did not like Zaccheaus. But Jesus recognized something good in him. How do we treat those we do not like? or
who may have different opinions than we have? Some kids treat these persons by bullying them. Do we ever use our strength and power to intimidate others?

It should also be noted that Zacchaeus , this little fellow, knew that somehow his life was incomplete without Jesus. And he did not allow his short stature to become an excuse for not seeking Jesus. Jesus wants to be a guest in all our houses. Our desire to welcome him will easily cancel any feelings of unworthiness that may hold us back.

Each day is the “today” of Jesus’ inviting Himself into our lives. Jesus welcomes us back from whatever distance we have wandered. He welcomes us back to the relationship with His sisters and brothers. Jesus welcomes us back to who we really are in God’s eyes and invites us to see ourselves anew and live that newness. Zacchaeus was not without sin, but when he faced Jesus, he changed. Jesus always reaches out to us, especially in times we don’t expect it. And that also will change us.