In John’s Gospel we read, “There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.” (John 21:25)

This underscores the importance of every story and person. St. Jose Maria Escriva wrote, “I advised you to read the New Testament for some minutes every day, and to enter into each scene and take part in it, as one more of the characters. This is so that you incarnate the Gospel, so that it is ‘fulfilled’ in your life.” (Furrow #672)

Luke introduces the tax collector named Zacchaeus:

At that time, Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way.

When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy. (When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.”)

But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, 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” [more than what the Law required]. And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 9:1-10)

 The Context

Israel was under Roman occupation. Zacchaeus, a Jew, worked for the oppressor. He was considered a traitor by many. He thought he was a son of the Covenant, just trying to make a living. Perhaps not unlike some of us, he separated what he did from who he was. But Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus more than he wanted economic comfort.

Jesus saw Zacchaeus’ heart. He knew him like He knows each of us. We have all compromised. Perhaps in our work, in our family or in our “free time.” But no matter what has happened in our past, Jesus walks into the dusty streets of our own lives. 

God is already there

Jesus knew Zacchaeus was in Jericho. The Lord came to Jericho for Zacchaeus. Jesus comes into each one of our lives, searching for us, because He comes to “seek and save what was lost.” (Luke 19:10)

We may think of the Christian life as our effort to reach God, but in reality God seeks us. Jesus reminds us, “You did not choose me, but I chose you.” (John 15:16) We “position” ourselves for the encounter. Zacchaeus climbed that tree to see Jesus. The words of the Master framed all his future responses: “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”

Forget the Crowd

Faith is not a vicarious experience. Others may help bring us to Jesus, but He calls our name and we must respond — not just once, but every day. Zacchaeus climbed that tree to see the Lord, not to be seen by Jesus. He did not care what the crowd thought of a grown man climbing a tree! Crowds rarely lead us to God.

Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do men say I am?” They told him what the crowds said. “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah.” Looking foolish to the crowd is part of the program. Are we willing to do so? Paul reminded the Corinthians, “God has chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise.” (1 Cor. 1:20-27)

Jesus spoke to Simon, “But you, who do you, say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Christ.” (Matt. 16:13-20) You can sense the joy in Jesus: “Blessed are you, Peter, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” Simon was changed, as is signified biblically by the changing of his name. He spent the rest of his life responding and experiencing ongoing conversion, and he poured out his blood as a martyr.

Do we want to see Jesus? Or are we comfortable keeping Him at a distance? The Christian vocation is to give our whole life to the Lord who takes up His residence within us and continues His mission through us. Paul wrote to the Galatians, “No longer do I live but Christ lives in me, and the life I now live I live by faith in the Son of God.” (Gal. 2:20)

Find your Sycamore Tree

The sycamore tree created a clear line of vision for Zacchaeus, helping him rise above the crowd and placing him in the right position for the invitation. When Jesus told him to come down for he was coming to his house, he did not hesitate. He heard the call that changed his life. When God calls we have only one real choice: respond without reservation.

Jesus walks along the Jericho Road of our lives, inviting us to follow Him in a life of ongoing conversion. He does not change, we do. He is the same “yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) The sycamore tree is a symbol of the place where we find that clear vision of Jesus. Let us learn to follow Jesus from Zacchaeus.