Reflection on Lk 19:1-10
This passage presents us the character of Zacchaeus. The name “Zacchaeus” in Hebrew means “pure or righteous one”. Luke tells us that this man called Zacchaeus was a chief toll/tax collector. The tax collectors were seen as sinners, avoided, and dreaded by the people in the time of Jesus because, working for the Roman government, they placed themselves against their fellow Jews. As such, they were hated.
Describing who this man was, Luke says he was a chief tax collector and a rich man. Now, this rich man wanted to see Jesus for just one purpose: to know who Jesus is. It is possible that he had heard so much about Jesus, and possibly heard how Jesus took his colleague, Levi (Matthew) (Lk 5:27-28), to be his disciple. But he has never seen Jesus face to face. So, out of curiosity, he wanted to see Jesus. The evangelist says that “he was seeking to see Jesus but could not because he was small of stature”. It is interesting to mark the imperfect continuous tense “was seeking” (ἐζήτει). It is not that he tried once but he was insistently trying to see Jesus. Yet he was not able.
Ordinarily, I would expect him, being a rich man, to arrange for a private audience with Jesus, or at least, wait for another opportunity. But this man was so mean at finding out whom Jesus was that he had to run to climb a tree. He ran some distance away from the crowd disrupting his view, and then mounted a Sycamore tree.
Ordinarily, I would expect him, being a rich man, to arrange for a private audience with Jesus, or at least, wait for another opportunity. But this man was so mean at finding out whom Jesus was that he had to run to climb a tree. He ran some distance away from the crowd disrupting his view, and then mounted a Sycamore tree.
Now, following the story, we would expect the evangelist to tell us that, having climbed the sycamore tree, Zacchaeus finally saw Jesus. But that did not happen. Rather, in v.5, it was Jesus himself who came to the place where Zacchaeus was, looked up and saw Zacchaeus. But wait… why did Jesus not see him all the while Zacchaeus was trying (ἐζήτει) to see him (v.2) only to see him now that he had gone up to a tree? Jesus called him by his name “Zacchaeus” and asked him to come down.
Zacchaeus was only seeking to see whom Jesus was, and Jesus immediately showed him whom he is. Jesus said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for today, it is necessary that I stay at your house.” (Lk. 19:5). This is exactly whom Jesus is…the one who sees us before we see him; the one who knows us by our names and calls us by them when we sincerely search for him; the one who rewards our sincere effort to find him; the one who takes us from the road where we wait to see him, to our own house where he comes to stay with us. That is whom Jesus is and he did not waste time to show Zacchaeus this. It is interesting to note the eschatological tone of “today” or “this day” (σήμερον) in Jesus’s invitation to Zacchaeus.
Of course, the people following Jesus were not so comfortable that Jesus was going to a house of a sinner (v.7). Instead of responding to the people’s murmuring, or attacking them back, Zacchaeus directed his words to Christ saying: “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.” (v.8). Some people would react to Zacchaeus promise of half of his possessions to the poor, when just in the chapter before our periscope (18:22) Jesus asked a rich man to sell everything and give all the returns to the poor. Why is Zacchaeus promising only half, and not all of his possessions to the poor? Zacchaeus is not only a rich man, he is also a chief tax collector.
This means that he has two groups of people to settle: as a rich man, he owns the poor; and as a tax collector, he needs to pay back everything he has gained unlawfully. Hence, he divided his possessions into charity and restitution. Unless a restitution is made of what is stolen directly or indirectly, no amount of charity to the poor will replace it. Stealing from people, and helping the poor is not a charity, it is man wishing he can deceive God.
This means that he has two groups of people to settle: as a rich man, he owns the poor; and as a tax collector, he needs to pay back everything he has gained unlawfully. Hence, he divided his possessions into charity and restitution. Unless a restitution is made of what is stolen directly or indirectly, no amount of charity to the poor will replace it. Stealing from people, and helping the poor is not a charity, it is man wishing he can deceive God.
Immediately Jesus heard this resolution by Zacchaeus, he made the second eschatological declaration that is surrounded on “today” (v.9) It is interesting to remember that already in v.5, we see Jesus speaking of “today” when he was inviting himself to Zacchaeus’s house. Now, going to Zacchaeus house is not an express salvation to him. Jesus would be with Zacchaeus in his house, but that does not make Zacchaeus to be automatically clear of his sins, especially the wealth accumulated unlawfully.
But immediately he repented of them and made a promise of restitution, he received the eschatological salvific proclamation of Jesus: “Today salvation has come to this house…, (v.9). That we become born again, or begin again to be Christians, or decide to rededicate our lives to God is only but one step to our salvation. It is imperative that we make amends in our relationship with our fellow human beings and return whatever we have taken away from others.
But immediately he repented of them and made a promise of restitution, he received the eschatological salvific proclamation of Jesus: “Today salvation has come to this house…, (v.9). That we become born again, or begin again to be Christians, or decide to rededicate our lives to God is only but one step to our salvation. It is imperative that we make amends in our relationship with our fellow human beings and return whatever we have taken away from others.
What is in there for us?
Zacchaeus had enough reasons to postpone his desire to see Jesus. He left his rich man’s position and came out, yet his small stature became an obstacle. But he did not allow that to stop him. It is not our fault that we have some physical limitations or any other limitation to do good, but it is our fault when we depend on those limitations as our excuse for not making effort.
Zacchaeus found solution to his limitation by looking around him. He was not disturbed the damage climbing a tree would cause to his personal integrity as a rich man, what was important to him was getting to see this Jesus. Many times, the solution to our limitations or problems are lying all around us but we judge them to be debasing of “whom or what we are”.
God furnishes us with all the help we need to succeed, we just need to be humble and sincere in our pursuit. Only then, will God, as St. Paul prayed for the Thessalonians in the 2nd reading, count us worthy of his calling, and fulfil every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power (2 Thess. 1:11)
God furnishes us with all the help we need to succeed, we just need to be humble and sincere in our pursuit. Only then, will God, as St. Paul prayed for the Thessalonians in the 2nd reading, count us worthy of his calling, and fulfil every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power (2 Thess. 1:11)
Would Jesus have noticed Zacchaeus if he did not make effort, and run up to a tree? It is possible that he would. But the passage says that Zacchaeus “was seeking”.
Hence, it was not that he did it once and stopped. Yet, Jesus did not take notice of him until he went extra mile in showing his desire. God does not force us to conversion (sometimes Jesus pretends he did not see a sick man lying along the road, or that he did not hear someone begging him for healing, e.g. Mk 10:46-52, only to see how much the person can go in fighting to get what he/she earnestly desires). He allows us to take the move and then comes his help. The same thing applies to our everyday life: we need to show a sincere effort to succeed, and God will see our faith and work and then work with that.
Hence, it was not that he did it once and stopped. Yet, Jesus did not take notice of him until he went extra mile in showing his desire. God does not force us to conversion (sometimes Jesus pretends he did not see a sick man lying along the road, or that he did not hear someone begging him for healing, e.g. Mk 10:46-52, only to see how much the person can go in fighting to get what he/she earnestly desires). He allows us to take the move and then comes his help. The same thing applies to our everyday life: we need to show a sincere effort to succeed, and God will see our faith and work and then work with that.
It is not enough to say: I am a Christian, and I have Jesus in my life. It is important what we do as to correct our past mistakes. Jesus can be in our house, but his salvation comes to us when we live the life, he calls us to live.
The crowd made two obstacles for Zacchaeus and his quest. First, they blocked him from seeing Jesus. He overcame that by climbing a tree.
Secondly, they murmured against Jesus going to his house. He again overcame them by making a statement of total repentance to Jesus. In both obstacles, Jesus completely waited to see how Zacchaeus would respond to them. And to each of Zacchaeus responses, Jesus blesses with a “today”, with a new beginning in his life, with God’s eschatological and salvific signature. Be ready to face obstacles once you set out to be a good person, to develop yourself, to become positively and completely involved with God. The obstacles or oppositions do not count, but our reactions to them. Let them bring out the best in us and the more desire to pursue our goals and not blow away the fire of greatness burning in us.
May God bless us all as we go through our different sycamore trees, waiting for Jesus to pass by. Amen
Rev. Fr. Chukwuezugo Nnamah