Word to the Wise
Tuesday, November 19, 2013 - Tuesday in the 33th Week in Ordinary Time
[2 Macc 6:18-31 and Luke 19:1-10]"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." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost."
It would have been hard to find a character more disliked in Jesus' time than Zaccheus! He was a chief tax collector. In this capacity he would not only have collected a commission on the taxes he received, but probably an additional "commission" from the tax collectors whose jobs he controlled as well. Luke would not be exaggerating in calling Zaccheus a wealthy man! In the eyes of the audience, however, Zaccheus' wealth was a matter of resentment and hatred because they saw their "taxpayers dollars at work" in his wealthy lifestyle. Jesus sees through all of this to the spark of faith that has been smothered by a life of wealth - a big theme in Luke.
Zaccheus' response to Jesus' call is as extravagant as his previous life! He gives up half his wealth and repays anyone he has extorted four times over! This could leave him a much poorer man economically, but much richer in the eyes of God! The crowd is skeptical but both Jesus and Zaccheus "stand their ground." Indeed, one of the major "lessons" here is to ask ourselves about our own reaction to Jesus' reaching out and to Zaccheus response! Do we resent Jesus' even talking to this man? Do we disbelieve his conversion? Wee Zaccheus becomes a giant in Jesus' sight. What size are we? AMEN