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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2013  THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME  [St. Martin De Porres - patron of the Southern Dominican Province]

 

     I admit that the charm of this scene can distract me from its profound meaning!  This little guy, Zaccheus, who is a lightening rod for resentment because of his occupation (tax collector) and wealth (probably a result of his occupation), was a "seeker."  He wanted "to see who Jesus was."  We can imagine him jumping up and down to get a sight and then, (light bulb appears) the bright idea of running ahead and climbing a tree like any kid would do, comes to him.  Artists have painted the scene of him clinging to a branch of that sycamore tree.  It is comical but Zaccheus gets more than he bargained for.  He went from being a "seeker" to being a "finder," just as Jesus characterizes his own mission at the end of this gospel!  He also, ironically, in being a finder, became himself the "found!"

 

     The grumbling crowd ["He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner!"] betrays the social resentment as well as religious resentment.  (Tax collectors handled foreign currency, which made them unclean!)  But Zaccheus seems to have more courage than many of us and shows generosity as well as repentance and restitution!  How many of us could face down that crowd and say the same thing?

 

     It doesn't matter who we are.  If we seek Jesus, he will find us!  It doesn't hurt to show some imagination like Zaccheus.  But we should be aware of the implications.  Once we and Jesus find one another, our lives will not be the same again!  AMEN