The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost

Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner." Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham, for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

- Luke 19:1-10

In yesterday's reading, Jesus began to introduce clearly what is going to happen to Him at Jerusalem. But His Apostles could not comprehend or take in any of what He told them. He and the apostles are on their way to Jerusalem. As they approach Jericho, they are met by a crowd, in the midst of which is a blind man - who normally sat by the road, begging. When the blind man finds out what the commotion is about, he begins to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" The crowd demands he be quiet, but he persists in his shout, and Jesus tell him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well."

My study bible has a note which applies to the whole of today's passage. It reads, "This delightful account occurs only in Luke. Zacchaeus means 'the pure and innocent one.' Being a tax collector, he does not live up to his name, by his own admission. Nevertheless, he comes to have a heart for Christ and becomes a changed man (v. 8). Because he has been richly blessed, he gladly offers to do something voluntarily, which the rich ruler would not. Exactly what happened in the house of Zacchaeus is unknown (v. 9), but the joy rings out in Christ's words: Today salvation has come to this house."

Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. Again, we note the proximity to Jericho, where the men of Israel tumbled the walls of the city with a great shout. There's a powerful metaphor to prayer here, not only in the persistence of the shout of the blind man in yesterday's reading, but also today in the story of Zacchaeus. Here the handicap is not blindness, but Zacchaeus' short stature. He may be a chief tax collector, and wealthy, but he's handicapped by being short and unable to see because of the crowd.

So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. Zacchaeus makes the extra effort to see Jesus. What stops us from "seeing Jesus?" We need to be persistent and find whatever assistance we can - often by seeking the elevation and support by reading the word of those who've come before us, and understood. He overcomes his difficulty, his handicap, by making that effort and finding that support in the sycamore - a great spreading tree that can grow for centuries. In the Near East, this type of sycamore also gives figs - a symbol for Israel, and it grows buttressing branches that rise from near the ground.

And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. Here is the amazing understanding of Christ calling someone out. Many people have experienced conversion in such a sense, of being called as an individual, as if the choice were not really theirs - but only the choice to respond. And this is the gesture of Christ which will be made at the Passion. Zacchaeus receives Him joyfully.

But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner." Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham, for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." This son of Abraham is restored to his rightful place through the salvific action of Christ, calling him out. The sycamore teaches us something again with its symbolism: its buttressing branches and its fig teach us about extending teaching through the centuries to those who remain in the faith of "Israel," or the people of God. Jesus uses His messianic title, the Son of Man, to teach us clearly in what role He speaks. My study bible notes the difference between the voluntary giving of Zacchaeus and the sorrow with which the rich ruler heard Jesus' teaching. Zacchaeus does not share that same attachment to his wealth.

Again, I return to the image of the sycamore tree. Here it is an image of support and elevation, but it is also a source of refuge. And I think that this is where we begin with this story. I find that the stories in this section of Luke's Gospel are preparing us (as with the disciples) for the times that are to come, the time after Jesus' Passion - His death and Resurrection. We take refuge not just in the teachings of the Gospels but of the whole of the literature and sources of teaching and meaning available to us: from the whole of the history of Israel or the People of God, to the traditions and sources that have developed through the wide breadth of the Church in its entirety and its growth in the Holy Spirit. Zacchaeus may be short of stature, and considered a sinner, but he is also a saved remnant, a son of Abraham. Through the support we find in the branches of our faith, we too may be called out by Christ, and nurtured to find our true wealth and meaning, our worth, and hence redemption and restoration to community. This is a tree grown for centuries, since ancient times, and full of the wisdom of the ages, preparing us for those to come. How does this saving grace work in your life? Have you felt called by this voice? What support do you seek and need to see what you need to see? Call on it, and be persistent. Most of all, these times are meant for persistence in prayer -- so we are taught in this part of Luke's Gospel. Take full advantage of what is available to help, to support and give refuge, and seek to respond to His call and receive him joyfully, as did Zacchaeus. He calls us all.