God and the Repentant Tax Collector

Homily for Tuesday of the Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time

I am tempted to interpret today’s Gospel text by using bullet points.

First, no one is beyond God’s reach; Even the most unredeemed can be forgiven. Zacchaeus is seen by his contemporaries as a sinner. Jesus sees him as one of the lost sheep.

Second, encountering God’s love can change lives; Real faith is action, generosity, and justice. Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus changed his life. However, others can encounter Jesus through us.

Third, God sees us all; God’s love is intimate and personal. Zacchaeus’ desire was to see Jesus so he climbed a sycamore tree. Little did he know that Jesus would see him.

Fourth, God’s grace is transformational; Acceptance and forgiveness inspire change. None of us would disagree with those who think of Zacchaeus as a sinner; however, he is transformed by Jesus’ acceptance of him.

Finally, the mission for us all as Christians is to find the lost, lonely, and suffering who have lost their way, to forgive them, and bring them home to Christ. We are all sinners; we are all lost; and many of us are suffering. Even though we are limited by our situation, there are plenty of opportunities for us to engage in this mission.

Just as Jesus was good to Zacchaeus, we are called to be good to one another.