“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.” In our first reading from book of Wisdom, teaches us that everything that comes from the hand of God is good through his love and mercy. Our sins are forgiven, they are wiped away. St Paul reminds the community in Thessalonica, to continue to pray in faith and virtue. Now is the time to turn our good intentions into good achievements, while we wait for the second coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Our duty is to ‘seek out the lost and to save,’ for the salvation of the world. Good achievements takes time and perseverance, even if these are only little and small.
‘From a little spark it may burst into a mighty flame’ (Dante). ‘If I cannot do great things, I can still do small things, but in a great way’ (J.F. Clarke).
In our Gospel today, we hear the story of Zacchaeus who climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus. Jericho is located about 17 miles northeast of Jerusalem. The road close to the town was well travelled by pilgrims and traders. It was near the Roman controlled border of Judea and Perea (p-re-a), on an east to west trading route. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector overseeing the collection of tolls and duties on the transportation of goods. Zacchaeus was determined to see Jesus after hearing all the wonderfully things is had done, quickly and in haste, he climbed up a sycamore tree.
I have visited Jericho during my 4th year at Oscott college and the sycamore tree is still there. I know what you are all thinking, is it the same tree, and did I climb up it? Sadly, no to both questions, it isn’t the same tree, but it does help to imagine the scene of the story while visiting the town. Unfortunately, the tree is also surrounded by fences so you can’t climb up the tree anyhow.
Jesus sees the tax collector, and senses his natural goodness which must not be lost. This encounter was not just an encounter by chance, but one that occurs by divine necessity in fulfilling God’s plan, to ‘seek and to save’ Zacchaeus from his sinful ways. Visiting his home was something Jesus had to do. Zacchaeus came down the tree and welcomed Jesus into his home, like Abraham welcoming two divinely sent visitors. With haste, and being a descendant of Abraham, Zacchaeus now imitates his hospitality to Jesus. This meeting marks out a turning point in the chief tax collector’s life. Zacchaeus thought that he ‘was seeking’ the Lord, but in reality, it was Jesus who had ‘come to seek him out’ and to ‘save him’ and his household. Zacchaeus responds by changing his life and using his possessions, giving back to the poor, indicating the good fruits that he will produce as evidence of his repentance.
St Augustine compares the sycamore tree that Zacchaeus climbed to Jesus’ cross. And I quote “Climb the tree on which Jesus hung for you, and you will see Jesus.” This quote can be developed further. Whereas Jesus hung on the tree because he was crucified, Jesus told Zacchaeus to come down from the tree. In effect, the sinner is replaced by the Saviour. This is the substitution accomplished by Jesus. He died on the cross in our place, giving us salvation of eternal life, through his merciful grace and loving kindness.
Zacchaeus was ‘touched’ by God while he was watching in the tree, this single meeting with Christ was enough to move him into the right direction. Jesus saw his good intentions, but Zacchaeus couldn’t put them into practice due to his weight of sin and shame.
Let us today wipe away our sin and shame, that is holding us back from completing our good works and good intentions. Our encounter with the Lord is also through God’s divine plan, through his love and mercy towards us. As we approach Advent and Christmas, let us start to complete little good intentions, the more we do, the bigger our overall success will be.
We have all been asked to build up the Kingdom of God, through our actions, may we ‘seek out the lost’ and bring them to the Lord.
During my priestly ordination the words in the Rite echo the words of Jesus: “keep always before your eyes the example of the Good Shepherd, who came to seek out and to save what was lost.”
Through our Baptism we have been called to be Priests, Prophets, and Kings, by our Holy anointing. May the grace that we have received, allow us to accomplish many good fruits for the Kingdom of Heaven, bringing salvation to our home, while we await the second coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
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