Some people like to think they are in complete control of their lives. They plan their trips down to the last detail, while others venture along open to the unexpected. Those of us who live on Whidbey know that we are at the mercy of the ferry system. Luke tells us up front that Jesus simply intended to pass through Jericho, the lowest city in the world, until he spotted Zacchaeus in a tree. “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.”
Ever faithful to his mission “to seek and to save what was lost,” Jesus figuratively ventured out on a limb himself for no Jew in his right mind would have done what he stopped to do, that is, socialize with a public sinner, which is how Zacchaeus’ neighbors viewed him. As intent as Jesus may have been to quickly pass through town, he was more intent on saving anyone who desired to be saved.
Keep in mind that Zacchaeus was the epitome of the despised person. A chief tax collector, this wealthy Jew was living off the sweat of the town folks, supporting the Romans with the monies he collected, so in their sight, he was the ultimate sinner, yet of all the residents in Jericho, he was the only one whom Jesus called by name.
What a surprise that must have been to those who witnessed this encounter and to Zacchaeus as well. Then and there Jesus should have criticized the man, not dine with him! This left the residents of Jericho muttering, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner!” For Zacchaeus, the notion that Jesus wanted to stay with him must have spoke volumes of God’s love for him.
I imagine Zacchaeus climbed out on a limb never expecting to be noticed. But he was and that left him a changed person. Instead of passing by, Jesus called him by name, something rarely noted in any of the gospels. In their heart to heart encounter, this short man could see that by noticing him, Jesus also loves him.
If we have ever been tempted to say, “No one in the world cares about me,” then possibly we cannot see how much God loves us. Despite the overwhelming size of the universe, God very much loves you, however much a sinner you may be in the sight of others or judge yourself to be. As the passage from Wisdom points out, God is in touch with all of creation. Jesus noticed this short man who may have thought he was out of sight sitting up in a tree but Jesus notices any who seek him.
That is the first point I feel Luke is trying to get across to us in this passage. However they may feel about themselves, Jesus calls all sinners to salvation. Those who seek Jesus, venturing out on the limbs of their lives, are saved. Zacchaeus made the choice literally and figuratively to climb out on a limb of a sycamore tree. Likewise, we are encouraged to do the same.
Seeing Jesus isn’t enough to be saved. Many residents in Jericho saw him as he passed by but, unlike Zacchaeus, did they seek to see who Jesus was? Seeking him resulted in an encounter that prompted Zacchaeus to change his ways. “Half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone, I shall repay it four times over.” In turn, Jesus assured him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham.”
That brings me to the second point in this gospel passage. Like Zacchaeus, any sinner seeking Jesus will be moved to a change of heart and follow his example. Recognizing that God notices and loves him, Zacchaeus was prompted to be generous like God, promising to give half of what he owned to the poor and make restitution to those whom he has wronged.
Salvation begins with recognizing what God has already done for us. He created us out of love to spend eternity with him in heaven. In turn, we can demonstrate our trust in God by offering some of what we have back to God as a sign of gratitude for all that God has done for us. We call that stewardship.
Morris West, a renowned Catholic novelist from Australia, once said, “If a man is centered upon himself, the smallest risk is too great for him, because both success and failure can destroy him. If he is centered upon God, then no risk is too great, because success is already guaranteed.
When we adopt stewardship as our way of life, we follow the example of Zacchaeus. Like him, we venture out on a limb to center our lives on God. If we believe that God indeed cares about us, we are prompted, as was Zacchaeus, to give God the first fruits of our labors rather than our spare change, that is, what is left over after paying all the bills.
I admit that climbing out on a limb to give God the first fruits of our labors may seem like a scary proposition to many people. At one time, I too struggled with making ends meet; I decided to practice stewardship by writing the first check of the month to the parish. When I began to dedicate the first part of my income to God, I began trusting that in the vastness of the universe, God indeed cared about me. Others in the parish have had the same experience.
In the coming week, I ask that you prayerfully consider how you have responded to God’s generosity in the past year. What are you sharing in gratitude for all that God has done for you? Be assured that when you make stewardship a way of life, God will not be leaving you out on a limb.