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

 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."  And 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

Yesterday we read that Jesus took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.  For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.  They will scourge Him and kill Him.  And the third day He will rise again."  But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.  Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging.  And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant.  So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.  And he cried out, saying, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"  Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"  So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him.  And when he had come near, He asked him, saying, "What do you want Me to do for you?"  He said, "Lord, that I may receive my sight."  Then Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well."  And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God.  And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

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.  As discussed in yesterday's reading and commentary (see above and the link), Jericho was a place notoriously associated with iniquity and sinful living.  And here is a product of Jericho, Zacchaeus who is a chief tax collector and also rich.  Tax collectors were collaborators with the Romans, and they frequently used the power of the state to extort more than was due from Jewish citizens for their own benefit.   My study bible refers to 18:24-27, in which Jesus says that it is "easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."  This encounter between Christ and Zachaeus, it says, demonstrates that grace can accomplish that which is impossible to human beings.

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.   My study bible says that the story of this encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus has given rise to many spiritual interpretations, which express its universal significance.  Theophylact sees in the crowd a symbol of sins:  "Crowded in by a multitude of passions and worldly affairs, he is not able to see Jesus."  St. Ambrose, my study bible adds, sees several parallels:  First, Zacchaeus' short stature is indicative of being short on faith and virtue.  Second, that Zacchaeus must climb up a tree shows that no one attached to earthly matters can see Jesus.  And finally, the Lord who intends to pass that way reveals that Christ will approach anyone willing to repent and believe.  The sycamore can also serve as allegory to the Cross, often called "a tree," and teaches that all those willing to go the way of the Cross can find redemption and transformation in Christ.

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."   Note that Zacchaeus responds joyfully to the call and command of Christ.

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."   My study bible points out that Zacchaeus uses the term give for his free and generous offering to the poor, and restore for what he owes to those whom he had cheated -- as this was not a gift but was required by the Law (Exodus 22:1).  In doing both, Zacchaeus not only fulfills the Law, but he also shows his love of the gospel.

And 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."  My study bible says that the title son of Abraham indicates that Zacchaeus has become like this patriarch of Israel.  That is, he is counted righteous by his faith, he became generous toward the poor, and he is united to the people of God.  It also notes that, according to early records of the Church, Zacchaeus went on to become a bishop.

How does salvation come to people?  In Christ coming through Jericho, it is possible to see this story as telling us that Zacchaeus has never before heard of nor encountered anything or anyone like Him.  It speaks of the compelling nature of Christ, the very Incarnation as an event so unique as to command attention from every human being -- and in the picture of the Scriptures, every creature, even every created thing in existence.  Zacchaeus is someone who commands a certain power and authority, but his short height is a kind of image of his stature among the community.  He may be chief among scoundrels in a place noted for its iniquity.  Note how the people grumble that Christ goes to stay with a man who's a sinner.  Zacchaeus is not just a tax collector, he's a chief tax collector -- and a tax collector is seen as a betrayer of the community.  So, in a town known for its sinfulness, Zacchaeus stands out.  But again, Christ is greater than anything else we might understand, and He's more compelling and powerful than even the most notorious bad man's reputation.  The image of Zacchaeus needing to climb the sycamore to see Christ tells us that whatever he's done to "achieve" his wealth, he can't hold a candle to the stature and drawing power of Christ.  The Incarnation is in itself an event of such magnitude that no worldly power or coercion can hold a candle to it; there is simply nothing else like it.  So powerful it is that Zacchaeus is transformed by the call of Christ, and he becomes a different man.  In so doing, he's restored to community.  In His teachings to His disciples, Jesus is frequently citing and extolling the things that make us "little" in the eyes of the world.  Humility, in particular, is constantly stressed, as has continued in the entire history of the Church as the virtue upon which all else rests.  He tells His disciples that above all else, they must care for the little ones.  In the Beatitudes, the blessedness of the poor in spirit is the first given.  How would we expect a chief tax collector, backed up by Roman soldiers, to view those virtues of humility, and being poor in spirit?  But these virtues of humility are the means by which we encounter Christ and in which the grace of God may enter and shine through our lives (2 Corinthians 12:9).  It is, paradoxically, these qualities we associate with "littleness" and the care of the powerless that open the door for the greatest power we can encounter, the most compelling draw understood by human beings.  What we encounter in Zacchaeus is the transformation possible through the power of God, which my study bible frames within the saying of Christ that "the things which are impossible with men are possible with God" (see 18:24-27).  This is not simply about repentance and change, but about the power of grace to be at work in people's lives, reaching into place that no other thing or person can reach, no other power can achieve.  This is what we understand, the power of grace to transform, restore, and create what is good, the community necessary for the good order of human beings.  Note how Zacchaeus' restoration and voluntary gift creates "right-relatedness" (or righteousness) between himself and Christ, and between himself and the community.  In this we have the fulfillment of the two greatest commandments given by Jesus, love of God first, and from there love of neighbor.  In a world full of images of would-be perfection and achievement, let us think about the power of grace and its effects,  the great strength and power possible through the door of humility, and even patience with our own "weakness."    One may read of scandalous behavior among the famous and wealthy, the socially powerful extolled through media -- and the hypocritical response of political hysteria that follows but does not touch the heart and soul, nor the redeeming power of the work of God.  But Christ's way of humility and grace remains the one sure path, the true power of healing for each and for all.