Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday 16th November
Message from Fr Paul for Tuesday, 16th November 2021
Today’s Gospel passage, (Lk 19: 1-10), which follows directly on yesterday’s account of the healing of the blind man, presents us with Luke’s version of the encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus. Let’s read the text first, then I’ll say a few words about it. “Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the town when a man whose name was Zacchaeus made his appearance: he was one of the senior tax collectors and a wealthy man. He was anxious to see what kind of man Jesus was, but he was too short and could not see him for the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus who was to pass that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and spoke to him: ‘Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.’ And he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully. They all complained when they saw what was happening. ‘He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house’ they said. But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to the Lord, ‘Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody, I will pay him back four times the amount.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.’”
We note that Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem for the last time and his final confrontation with the Jewish and Roman authorities and has entered the town of Jericho. It’s there that we meet Zacchaeus. Luke tells us that he was not only a tax collector, but one of the seniors among them and that he was very rich. Wealthy indeed, if short in stature. Luke, more than any other evangelist, is consistently concerned about matters of wealth and, correspondingly, the treatment of the poor. In the previous chapter a rich man, when asked to give away all he had, walks away from Jesus in sadness. When Jesus declares that it is nearly impossible for the rich to enter the kingdom of God, the disciples — who like most of their time believe wealth a sign of God’s favour — are incredulous. In contrast, in this story another rich man receives Jesus with joy into his home and promises to give half his wealth to the poor and to restore fourfold any amount he may have defrauded. Then Jesus announces the impossible, that “salvation has come to this house.” The Pharisees and disciples alike are horrified, for Jesus declares Zacchaeus to be saved, for Zacchaeus is not only rich but also despised for his position in the town. There are other interesting details in the story, but these are enough for today. Jesus rejects no one, but has come to seek out and save those who to others are lost. No one is beyond redemption, but this does demand a change of mind and heart, and a change of lifestyle. Before the presence of Jesus in our lives, we can but ask for mercy and we will receive it. Let us make him welcome in our homes and in our very selves.
