Zacchaeus, come down quickly
 
Fr Michael Panchickal V C

Zacchaeus desired to see Jesus. There was a reason. Someone must have told him Jesus was the divine person who loved and respected the money-loving and money- grabbing sinner. This information inspired hope in Zacchaeus . Till then his conviction was a different one. The conviction that God only ignores and rejects sinners. Those were the times when women caught in adultery were stoned to death, when sinners were filled with fear and insecurity. That was why Zacchaeus climbed a tree and seated himself on it. He was not quite sure that what he heard about Jesus was correct. He decided to see for himself if hearsay were true or not.

There was Jesus coming from a distance. Around him were the Pharisees walking with an air of sanctity. They, who would shy away from him and give him the cold-shoulder! Zacchaeus wanted to know how Jesus would react and sat looking at his face. Jesus reached the tree and slowly looked up. A look of love. Kind words. A tender love that called him by name. Before the one who waited to see him, Jesus revealed his love. Zacchaeus was attracted by that revelation. How true was what he had heard about Jesus! The love that accepted the extortioner and considered him precious and valuable charmed him and drew him close to Jesus. His fear fled. He slid down the tree immediately. Here it was the unconditional love of Jesus that redeemed Zacchaeus and made him his own.

The truth that is, "In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us" (2 Cor 5:19) became freedom for Zacchaeus. If Jesus had not revealed his love, Zacchaeus would not have come close to him or been filled with his grace. Here, the reason for his coming down the tree, being united with him in love, was the fact that he was charmed by the divine and inspiring individuality of Jesus. The Lord who said , "When the Son of Man is lifted up he shall draw all men to himself," was drawing Zacchaeus towards him. The closeness to Jesus transformed him re-created him into a new man.

When he was born anew and became a new man ,the nature of the transformed man came to the fore. When he was filled with the love of Jesus, the work of Jesus began to take shape. The one who relied on wealth, who was never satisfied with the wealth he looted, but pursued it relentlessly, is now serving the poor. Spending his money for them. Looking for people he had deceived. What a wonder! The change that occurred in a day! Whoever saw the transformation began asking, "How did this happen? What could be the reason why this man changed suddenly?" Someone saw the reason behind it. "I saw Zacchaeus seated on a sycamore tree. The change came after he climbed down!" He did not know that the change in attitude came about as the result of Zacchaeus ' meeting with Jesus.

Climbing a sycamore tree is not the means of transformation. Those who have seen the radiant face of Jesus and have been attracted by his love, may fast and observe night vigils and take delight in them. Imitating such actions, again, does not bring about any change in our lives because what transformed the saints was the experience of the great love of Jesus. Those who frequent shrines where it is not possible to know the word of God or to know the truth, or those who scale mountains without the spirit of prayer, are like those who climb sycamore trees hoping for a change in their lives. This "climbing the tree" will only bring despair in its wake to some . Others sit in judgment of God. "I went to such a place on 9 Fridays, and did so much penance. Yet God has not heard my prayer". Those who lament in this manner are also attempting to climb the sycamore tree several times without perceiving any change in themselves.
 
Let us go where the radiant face of God is revealed through Jesus. There Jesus will reveal his love. His word and witness will transform us.