Zacchaeus Journeys to Look Up

Zacchaeus Begins His Journey Towards Jesus

The work of grace will always be tangible in one’s life and in the case of Zacchaeus, the grace of conversion in the movements he will be undergoing. There will be 7 elements of the Spirit that will prompt Zacchaeus to move toward Jesus:

1) He knew that Jesus was coming to Jericho. This illustrates that God makes the first move to bring people back to Him. The news that Jesus was coming might have originated from the crowd who were pressing on to Jesus and besides the movement of Christ towards Jericho will conclusively illustrate that God moves towards man especially the sinner.

2) He desired to see who Jesus was. This gesture pictures out the inner grace of God to touch the person and move him closer to Jesus. The interior disposition is integral in the search for relationship with God in the advent of a new life.

3) He ran ahead of the crowd. To ran ahead of the crowd is symbolic. As the crowd were the source of his income as chief tax collector, he now detaches from the crowd by running ahead of them. This is a perspective of leaving things behind. He was short in stature and would not be able to see Jesus who would be passing by. This illustrates the hindrances towards a new path of renewal. Pope Francis said “There is no path to holiness without some renunciation and without spiritual combat.”

4) He climbed up a Sycamore Tree. Climbing up a sycamore tree provides us important images. A sycamore tree is usually a big and sturdy tree. It has a big trunk and sometimes difficult to split. This is symbolic of the security of life Zacchaeus had though tax collectors like him were labeled as “traitors” for they collect money from the citizens for the Romans.

5) He came down as Jesus commanded to come down the sycamore tree. Right after Jesus looked up at Zacchaeus who was on the tree, he was told to come down quickly as he meant to go to his house that day.  Zacchaeus came down quickly. The attention he got will no longer be from the people and from the Romans but now it is from Jesus. The start of a Christocentric life in Zacchaeus will be a start of a life of grace.

6) He received Jesus with joy. The new life of grace is manifested in Zacchaeus’ welcome of Christ into his home. The forbidden thing of a holy person to enter a sinner’s home was no longer followed by Jesus. Jesus breaks into a new law: to stay and be with sinners that they may be brought from darkness to light, from death to life, and from sin to grace.

7) He surrendered his life to Christ. The encounter of Zacchaeus with Jesus led to an interior renewal and interior disposition. The overflowing mystery of forgiveness was at work in the heart of Zacchaeus which made him surrender his entire will and life to Christ. He said: “behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if have extorted anything from anyone, I shall repay it four times over.”

Zacchaeus Begins to Look Up

A new life of grace will also be indicated with new ways of life and new perspective of action. In the conversion of Zacchaeus, we may learn 7 themes.

1) Detachment. Zacchaeus began to search for Jesus and to see him. He detached from his post as a chief tax collector and began to move towards Jesus. The space that involved the movement is indicative of a concrete sign of renewal. When somebody searches for something greater and more valuable, he would at all costs leave his current undertaking behind.

2) Vision. To see is a fundamental start of faith. Zacchaeus began to climb a sycamore tree to see Jesus who was about to pass that route. This illustrates a gateway of faith that would be deeper and more profound encounter with Jesus. Faith comes from hearing as it is also coming from seeing Jesus both internally and externally.

3) Humility. the humbling experience of Zacchaeus illustrated by coming down from the sycamore tree upon the command of Jesus was a sign of his new embrace virtue of humility. Obeying the c0mmand of Jesus will be a new sign of direction. Zacchaeus was always following the commands of the Romans to earn his living, but now it will be Jesus who will provide him a new way of living.

4) Direction. By coming down from the sycamore tree, the prophetic direction of Zacchaeus is revealed. Zacchaeus’ coming down from the tree will end the direction of his sight “looking down” to see Christ. Jesus is prophesying that one day He will be on the “tree” and Zacchaeus will be looking up. It will fulfill what John the Evangelist said: “they shall look upon Him whom they have pierced” (Jn 19:37). Jesus will be crucified and they will look on him hanging on the tree (cross). “The God of our ancestors raised Jesus to life after you killed him by hanging him on a tree.” (Acts 5:30)

5) Hospitality. hospitality is one of the most important Gospel values and themes which Jesus is much recognized. His identity is revealed by the parable of the Good Samaritan for instance. Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus into his home but before he welcomed him into his home, he welcomed him already in his heart.

6) Forgiveness. It is so amazing that St. Luke did not mention about sin and forgiveness in the encounter between Zacchaeus and Jesus. But by the fact that Zacchaeus said: “I give half of my possessions to the poor” was already the penance Zacchaeus voluntarily said implying the mystery of forgiveness and grace of reconciliation. The mystery of forgiveness and reconciliation escape human words and descriptions so, they were not described in detail.

7) Charity. Charity is the deepest identity of a Christian. After following the desire of Zacchaeus to see Jesus, we come now to the deepest grace he received: charity. St. Augustine said: “If you see charity, you see the Trinity.” The encounter of Zacchaeus with Jesus had brought him to the heart of conversion which is charity.