The Word of God
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today ." So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, "He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner." Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much." Then Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost."
Luke 19:1-10
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- For Jesus, the outsider; the poor; the voiceless; those loathed and abominated by society held pride of place! How does that sit with me?
- My very neediness brings me closer to Jesus. Speak with Jesus about this.
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- Lord, like Zacchaeus, I hear you calling me by name and I gladly welcome you to my house today. Help me become more aware that I am, at all times and in all places, in your loving presence. Help me to realise that the divine is in me and in every person that I meet, and this includes those whom I may find difficult.
- Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus was transformative. Can I respond with the same joy and generosity to the call of Jesus?
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- Note the urgency in Jesus’ exhortation to Zaccheus – ‘hurry!’ Lord, like Zaccheus, we gladly welcome you to our house now. Help us become more aware that at all times and in all places we are in your loving presence. Help us to realise that the divine is within every person that we meet, including those whom we may find difficult. Help us to be truly aware that Gods’ love is all-inclusive.
- Jesus teaches us that prayer is above all a response to God—a response, not an initiative. Prayer is concerned not with me, but with God. The essential act of prayer, in the words of Sister Wendy Beckett, is ‘to stand unprotected before God’.
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- We all like Zacchaeus, the shy man who did not want to attract any attention, yet ended up getting far beyond his expectations. Jesus could see what he really desired in the depths of his heart, and invited himself to Zacchaeus’ house. All who saw this began to grumble, but Jesus faced this criticism by proclaiming that salvation had come to Zacchaeus’ house. I try to imagine myself present in this scene: would I be like the diffident Zacchaeus, like the complaining crowd or like the merciful and strong Jesus?
- After meeting Jesus, Zacchaeus promised to mend his ways. I ask Jesus for his help, as he comes to seek and save what is lost.
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- Zaccheus wanted to see who Jesus was by looking at him from a safe position. But you cannot know anyone just by looking at them – something else has to happen. Jesus struck up a relationship with Zaccheus and this caused a great change in his future way of living.
- Prayer helps us to strike up a deep relationship with Jesus and he calls us by name. Life is never the same again after Jesus enters your ‘house’ and builds up a friendship which is far more valuable than you could ever ask or imagine.
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- We have to admire Zacchaeus. He risked ridicule to see Jesus, but his good will was more than rewarded by Jesus who invited himself to his house. The onlookers grumble that Jesus goes to the house of one who is a sinner. What would my reaction have been had I been there? I ask for real repentance for my sins, and to have a strong faith in the surprising mercy of God as we see it in Jesus. Do I really believe that the Son of Man came primarily to seek out and save what is lost?
- Jesus accepts and praises Zacchaeus' efforts to repair the damage he had done. He seems happy enough that he was giving one half of his money to the poor, and did not ask him to give it all up. I ask Jesus to help me believe he accepts my poor efforts, as he proclaims I too am a child of Abraham.
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- Jesus has come "to seek out and to save the lost". This final verse is the lens through which we are asked to contemplate this entire story. Zacchaeus is a high-ranking tax collector in the pay of the Roman occupiers. To his follow-Jews he is a traitor and, in their words, a sinner. Yet he is the man whom Jesus chooses to be his host during his stay in Jericho. What does this say about Jesus? About his ministry? About his priorities? Do I share these or am I among the naysayers and critics?
- How would Zacchaeus later tell his friends the story of his conversion?
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- In my prayer, Lord, I am often like Zacchaeus, making huge efforts to catch a glimpse of you, only to find that you are waiting for me, calling me by name, inviting yourself into my heart. Once I am with you, I find happiness in putting things right, ordering my life, finding the springs of generosity and justice that have been stifled by old habits. Jesus, as I sit at the computer, you look at me as you looked at Zacchaeus. You call me by name, and invite me to join you. You do not make demands, but in your company I want to change something in myself, and to offer it to you.
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- Jesus ‘was passing through’ Jericho. It seems that he did not intend to stay. Yet he changed his plans to be a guest of Zacchaeus. Lord, teach me not to be wooden but responsive to unexpected moments of grace.
- Lord, may I hear you say ‘I must stay at your house today’. Every day, please! Otherwise I am lost.
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- Where do I fall short so that I cannot see Jesus? What particular tree can I climb in order to see him more clearly? The practice of prayer through Sacred Space is like a tree. It gives me a daily glimpse of the Lord as he passes.
- ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner’. How do I feel when Jesus invites himself to my kitchen? How does the conversation go?
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- Wasn’t Zacchaeus very quick off the mark when he raced to a tree and climbed it in order to see Jesus? He was a man of the world wealthy and well in with the top brass, but not very popular in the community, tax collectors were not the most popular of people. Yet something stirred in him that caused him to find some way to get above the crowds. Then Zacchaeus had a conversion experience when he looked into the eyes of Jesus and his whole world turned around. I wonder what happened to him after Jesus left the village…
- Lord, you met Zacchaeus where he was at, and changed him completely, bringing as you say, salvation to his house. Repent means turn around, help me to turn my life around and repent of the many faults and failings of my life.
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- I am small, so I ask Jesus to lift me up onto his shoulders, so that I may see the world as he sees it. This is what prayer is like.
- I pray: ‘Jesus, you became the guest of a sinner that day. Please be my guest every day, though I am a sinner too.’
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- Zacchaeus used his imagination to see above the heads of those who came between Jesus. Do I allow someone stopping me from seeing Jesus?
- Jesus saw what was holding Zacchaeus back from living fully and freely. I ask Jesus to speak to me about my life, to help and to heal me.