Deacon Steve's homily for 31st Sunday Ordinary Time - C: Go out on a limb to see Jesus

Several years ago, my wife and I were touring Rome and we went to St. Peter’s Square for the Wednesday Papal audience.  The crowds were large, we were seated about half way back, and it was really difficult to see up front.  We waited for quite awhile when suddenly the Pope arrived for his audience.   Everyone was standing and everyone strained to see the Pope.   There was excitement in the air knowing that this holy man was so near. I remember looking around and seeing several people looking out windows, standing on steps, and standing on their chairs to get a glimpse of Pope JPII.   I myself stood on chair so I could see.   What a feeling it was to see the Pope ‘live’ for the very first time.

As I reflected on today’s gospel reading I thought about that day at St. Peter’s Square.  I would imagine that the crowds were thick waiting to get a glimpse of Jesus. The people of Jericho had heard of this man, a man from God, who had performed healings and other miracles. I am sure that there was excitement in the air and the people wanted to get a glimpse of him.

In last week’s Gospel, Jesus told a parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. This was a lesson on pride and humility. In this week’s Gospel, the parable comes to life and Jesus actually sees a tax collector. His name was Zacchaeus, a wealthy man, who was a tax collector by trade.  He wasn’t just any tax collector, he was the chief tax collector, the tax collector of the tax collectors. Tax collectors were hated and despised by the people because they cheated and over taxed them.

But Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. Perhaps he had heard about Jesus when Jesus sent his disciples in pairs ahead of him.   He had to see this man, Jesus.   But he was too short to see over the crowds.  Now I can relate to that.  That’s how I felt at St. Peter’s Square when I finally stood on a chair.  So what does Zacchaeus do?  He climbs a sycamore tree, and he goes out on a limb, so he can see Jesus.

© Henry Martin

My friends, let’s put this in perspective. This man Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector.   He was probably a senior citizen, not in the best of shape, and wearing his finest clothes.       How many people do you know who are elderly and wearing their Sunday best that could climb a tree?   I don’t know many people that could do that. But Zacchaeus was on a mission.  For some reason he was being drawn to Jesus. Something inside of him was leading him to Jesus and he would do anything to see him. Maybe it was his conscience, maybe he was searching for peace, or maybe it was by the grace of God that he sought Jesus.  Whatever it was, though, he went to great lengths not only to see Jesus but to also be seen by Jesus.

When Jesus sees him in the tree he says: "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house." I wonder if Zacchaeus expected that to happen?  By seeking out Jesus, Zacchaeus acknowledged his sinfulness and Jesus forgave him by inviting himself to his home. This little man who had made a living cheating people went out on a limb and was transformed by Jesus. He recognized his sins, and volunteered to repay all the people that he cheated.   He says to Jesus: "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." On that day and through his contact with Jesus, Zacchaeus undoubtedly grew into his name;  For his name means “pure one” or “righteous one.”

Dear friends, the church reminds us in this gospel reading that we, too, can experience the same transformation that Zacchaeus did. We, too, can become ‘pure’ and ‘righteous’. We hear Jesus say in the last line of today’s gospel: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” That is the Good News of Jesus Christ. That in him we can once again live in right relationship with God, And whenever people trust him enough, as Zacchaeus did, they experience deep and lasting peace.

There is no doubt that Zacchaeus found great satisfaction in giving back the money he had extorted through unfair taxes.  Jesus wants to bring us back into right relationship with God. And to give us the courage to live as we should live, so that we can experience the satisfaction we were meant to experience. Like Zacchaeus, all of us are searching for joy, peace, and happiness in our lives.  We, too, can find those things by seeking out Jesus, by going out on a limb to see our Savior.  

This week let’s follow our hearts and seek out Jesus in prayer, in scripture, and in the sacraments. Let’s remember that there is no better place to do that than right here at this mass, where Jesus is present:

in our priest who represents Christ in persona Christi,

in the words of Scripture,

in the singing and praying of all of us, and most intimately in the Eucharist.

          In just a few minutes, we’ll come forward to receive our Lord in Holy Communion.  Let’s ask God for the grace to respond as Zacchaeus did, and to allow Jesus to transform our lives.

God bless!