A story of hope, encouragement

Father Tony Chakkunga, VC - St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church

There is a touching event in Luke 19:1-10 where Jesus calls Zachaeus from the sycamore tree and visits his home and gives salvation to the whole family. The whole episode is full of hope and encouragement for all families of today. Let us take a close look at this endearing event. The eagerness of the short and sinful man, Zachaeus, to see Jesus makes him climb the sycamore tree. The compassion of Jesus in looking for the lost and unwanted makes him walk under the same tree. The sinless master in search of the repentant sinner halts by the roadside and calls him lovingly by name. How did Jesus recall his name? I imagine that it happened this way. As he reached the sycamore tree he stopped and looked at the palm of his own hand and there on his healing hand flashed the name ‘Zachaeus’ as it flashes on a computer screen, for it is written, “I have carved your name on the palm of my hand.” I used to remind the youngsters who come to me with the names of their boyfriends or girlfriends written on their hands that, if our names are written on the palm of God’s hand whose name should be written on our palms? Jesus’ name was written on Zachaeus’ hand and heart and that is why he climbed the tree to have at least a passing glimpse of him. The crowd is upset because of the words of Jesus to Zachaeus, “Come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” (Luke 19:5). Why is He choosing the house of a sinner to stay at when the houses of all those good people who were following him were available to him? Being upset they show their true colour as we read, “When they all saw this they began to grumble, saying He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” (Luke 19:7). This reaction of theirs revealed their true character. Zachaeus had now a choice, either to listen to the words of Jesus or to the words of the crowd. He made his choice once and for all and ran home to receive Jesus into his home. Unfortunately, today we see many people unable to make such clear choice. They listen more often to their own feelings, the words of others, the teachings of the world and, like the crowd, never give Jesus a chance to enter their homes, their hearts and their lives and thus receive salvation. It is a sad fact that Jesus has just to pass by many families today, but has no chance to enter them. The good news is that he wants to enter every home and give salvation to everyone. The crowd saw a different Zachaeus from the one whom Jesus saw. Jesus saw the Zacheus who said, “I will give half of my property to the poor and if I have cheated anyone I will pay back four times.” (Luke 19:8) The crowd saw the old Zachaeus and his past ways whereas Jesus alone saw the humble, repentant and obedient Zachaeus eager to receive salvation from the Saviour. No one except our Saviour can accept us and change our lives without blaming us for whatever has happened in the past. This is the greatness of the forgiving love of our Lord and Master Jesus. Anyone willing to listen to Him and to accept his Word of life need not have fear of the past. When we give our present into God’s hands, God takes care of our past and future. Our friends and dear ones and the crowd around us force us to focus on our past and our weaknesses and they prevent us from reaching the Saviour. The only names mentioned in this event are that of Jesus the sinless One and of Zachaeus, the repentant sinner and not of anyone else. The names of all those good people following Jesus that time are not found written anywhere since their focus was not on the Saviour but on the lives of others and their shortcomings. Jesus said, “I may stay in your house today,” and entered the home of Zachaeus. This is true of every entry of Jesus into any home. He is eager to enter every home and give salvation to everyone who shows eagerness to receive Him and His life-giving Word. Zachaeus, the father of the family, decided to change his life. Salvation was the gift given to the whole family. This is important for our families today. When at least one member of the family is willing to live by the standards set by Jesus, the whole family will be saved. It is true that when only one member of the family lives a pervert life, the bad name is attribute to the whole family. In the same way, when one member of the family lives an exemplary Christian life the whole family gets good name. I wish to remind all the fathers of family that they have a greater responsibility like Zachaeus to bring salvation to the whole family by their good life. A consoling thought for all of us in this event is that Jesus never spoke a word to Zachaeus regarding his past life. The loving eyes of Jesus were met by the repentant heart of Zachaeus, and the miracle of new life began. When he came face to face with the greatest treasure, he could not but abandon all of his earthly treasures and joyfully follow the Lord. May be many of us are not courageous enough to change our lives because we have not had even a glimpse of the greatness of God’s love. May each and every family experience the same love that Zachaeus experienced, and accept the salvation freely given to us by the loving Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ.