Zacchaeus Come Down

[Melody]

Read: Luke 19: 1 - 10

Reflect: When Zacchaeus heard Jesus’ call he promptly decided to set right those whom he had wronged with extraordinary generosity.   There is an intimate link between salvation and God’s search for that which was lost.  Jesus himself is the Father in the parable who seeks out the lost one, bringing salvation.

We must remember that if we are Christ’s, it is because the Son of Man came in search and save the lost.  

Respond:
Q.1 Why did the people mutter: ‘He has gone to be guest of sinners.’

Q.2 Where did Jesus first find you?

Q.3 What changes did it bring ?

© Rev. Fr. Marian Fernandes

[Seeker]

Q.1 Why did the people mutter: ‘He has gone to be guest of sinners.’

I think it was out of self-righteousness that they did this.  As if Zacchaeus didn't deserve our Lord's presence.

Q.2 Where did Jesus first find you?

The real question is when did I first find Jesus?  I believe that He is always there, but it is I who ignore Him.  I have no set answer for this.  Jesus knew me before I was formed in my mother's womb.  There have been times I accepted Him and times I rejected Him.  I struggle each day to remain open to Him and to remain in His friendship.

Q.3 What changes did it bring ?

When I coorperate with Christ, good happens even in the midst of evil and suffering.  When I don't, I see how badly I screw things up.

[Melody]

Q.1 Why did the people mutter: ‘He has gone to be guest of sinners.’

I think besides the self-righteousness that Seeker mentioned, it was also out of disdain. Because they were too self-righteous & hence proud to do such a thing, it totally must have begin "beneath them". Hence it must have been a sort of terrible shock.

Seeker: The real question is when did I first find Jesus? I believe that He is always there, but it is I who ignore Him.

Absolutely. Though Jesus lived in me since my infant baptism, I only had a personal encounter with Him in 1996 March. Even so, there were countless times before that, that I felt His Presence and His Protection and His love before getting to know Him personally.

Q.3 What changes did it bring ?

Tremendous! I think it first changed the way I thought (ala Romans 12:2) and everything moved from there. Am still learning and hence still changing in many ways.

Blessings,

Melody