Luke 19:1-10

The story of Zacchaeus is a well-known one.  A research paper a few years ago found that it is the most well known and most regularly used piece of Scripture in primary schools!  I wonder why?  Simply read it is the story of a bad man turned good.  Why not use it for our children to learn that Jesus calls them from being bad to being good?  After all the gospel is a call to goodness and right.  But there are many subtleties and layers of meaning in the story.

Comparing and contrasting often helps us.  Some of you might remember that last week in the gospel we read about another tax collector.  We must remember that whenever tax collectors are mentioned in the gospel, they will be divisive characters.  Tax was collected by the Roman occupiers of the Jewish territory.  Not a popular occupation.  Tax collectors often benefited from this collection; we are told.  Last week in the gospel we were presented with a tax collector who was put forward in opposition to the Pharisee.  The Pharisee was praying loudly in the Temple for all to see, praising himself for his fasting and tithing and being grateful that he was not like a despicable tax collector.  The tax collector by contrast was humbly praying to God to look down upon him and grant him mercy. This man we were told went home at right with God.  

In the very next verses of his gospel Luke presents us with another tax collector.  This time not in a Temple but in the streets; this time not down the back of the crowd being looked down on by the Pharisee but ahead of the crowd being looked up at by Jesus.  This tax collector is met in the street by Jesus (the Son of God) who looks up at him as he climbs a tree to take a glimpse of Jesus.  Luke is taking us further.  Not only does God welcome the humble prayer of the tax collector he actively goes seeking them out and eats with them.  God doesn’t wait for us in the Temple but greets us with salvation (he visits us from on high).  This story is not just about Tax collectors.  It is about each and every one of us.  The story is Luke’s way of instructing the reader that in the person of Jesus, God the Father has come to seek each one of us out.  He has particularly come to those of us in need of healing and grace.  He has particularly come to help us move our lives from being self-centred to being God-centred and other-centred.  He has come to call us all to integrity of life and to invite us into his kingdom of justice and light.  

This week’s gospel finishes with Zacchaeus making a speech about his intention to give away his property and pay back fourfold those he has cheated.  Jesus also makes a statement that salvation has come to this house because this man too is a son of Abraham.  These final statements remind us that Jesus sees all people, no matter who they are, being called to journey in faith and trust with God.  That journey and knowledge of the living God walking alongside is a call to life of justice and integrity.  

By Fr Brendan Reed