Jesus and Zacchaeus Luke 19:1-10
Imaginative Contemplation
Enter into the scene
Sometimes I get so frustrated. You see, I am a little man, and as such, I am of no account. When I go to the Synagogue, I find myself at the back of the crowd. Not only am I not able to see the Elder, but often the people around me are making so much noise that I can’t hear, either. No one seems to notice me. I am invisible, of no account.
I had heard a lot about this man Jesus who seems to care about the outcasts and the people of little worth. Then this morning, I heard e was coming my way. I tried to get some information from the people near me, but they just ignored me. So, I thought to myself, ‘If I were coming into Jericho, which road would I use? Ah, the one that is lined with sycamore trees! They have big leaves. I could climb up into its branches and be able to hear what is happening. If I choose a tree on the corner of the street, there might be a hope that Jesus would stop there and tell some of his stories.’ I would be hidden among the leaves.
I hurried off to fulfil my plan. It wasn’t easy to climb that tree; my clothes kept getting in the way. But soon I was perched on a stout branch close to the trunk of the tree. I waited, and as the minutes passed, I felt a growing sense of expectation and excitement.
Soon I heard the noise of a crowd coming my way. Yes, Jesus was there too. He was coming closer… and then he stopped under my tree. He stopped talking, and then started laughing uncontrollably. What was going on? Oh, no! He has seen me! Between the gusts of laughter, he calls me. ‘Zacchaeus, come down. I must stay at your place today!’ I couldn’t believe my ears. He knows my name. He knows where I live. He was laughing at me, but it wasn’t ridicule. I felt accepted, even to the point of sharing a funny situation. He valued me; I mattered to him!
‘Oh Jesus, of course you can come to my house! Thank you for your great gift of friendship and shared joy.’
Accepted by Jesus, there is no longer any need for me to hoard money, so I give it to those in need.
Of course, there were some people who were grumbling about Jesus coming to my house because they have dismissed me as a sinner, an outcast. But I don’t care any more, because I have a wonderful friendship with this extraordinary man who values me for who I am.
For further reflection
Discuss with Jesus the following points:
· Do I ever feel ignored, of little worth to people? How do I react to these situations?
· Are there people in my life whom I consider of little importance? Can I take the time to get to know them?
· Abraham Lincoln once said, ‘I don’t like that person over there. I must get to know them.’
· There is a huge difference between laughing with someone and laughing at them.
· Can I see the good in all people?
· How do I react when I hear negative gossip?
Prayer
Lord, help me to ponder the following statement with you.
‘There is so much good in the worst of us,
and so much bad in the best of us
that it ill behoves any of us
to speak ill of the rest of us.’
Amen.