We find Jesus interacting with an unexpected person --- Zacchaeus.

Zacchaeus, a tax collector known for collecting more than his due, is an outcast,

After encountering Jesus, Zacchaeus changes his life and decides to live justly, giving back more than he has taken.

God’s forgiveness can change our lives.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Revelation 3:1-6, 14-22*

Write this to the angel

Of the church in Sardis, "Thus says he, who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your worth: you think you live, but you are dead. Wake up and strengthen that which is not already dead. For I have found your works to be imperfect in the sight of my God. Remember what you were taught; keep it and change your ways. If you do not repent, I will come upon you, like a thief, at an hour you least expect.

 

Yet, there are some left in Sardis who have not soiled their robes; these will come with me, dressed in white, since they deserve it. The victor will be dressed in white, and I will never erase his name from the book of life; instead, I will acknowledge it before my Father and his angels.

 

Let anyone who has ears, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches." (...) Look, I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my call, and open the door, I will come in to you, and have supper with you, and you, with me. I will let the victor sit with me, on my throne, just as I was victorious, and took my place with my Father, on his throne. Let anyone who has ears, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches."

 

Ps 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5 I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

 Luke 19:1-10

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man named Zaccheus lived there. He was a tax collector and a wealthy man. He wanted to see what Jesus was like, but he was a short man and could not see him because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree.

 

From there he would be able to see Jesus, who was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zaccheus, come down quickly, for I must stay at your house today." So Zaccheus climbed down and received him joyfully.

 

All the people who saw it began to grumble, and said, "He has gone as a guest to the house of a sinner." But Zaccheus spoke to Jesus, "Half of what I own, Lord, I will give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay him back four times as much." Looking at him Jesus said, "Salvation has come to this house today, for he is also a true son of Abraham. The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"Come down quickly."

Today's Gospel pericope narrates the story of Zacchaeus, introduced as a tax collector, a wealthy man and a short man. He was rich but was not happy, He may have been looking for happiness and that was why he wanted to see Jesus. Because he was of small stature, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus.

 

When Jesus passed by, he looked up, saw Zacchaeus and told him to come down because Jesus would stay at his house that day. Because of Jesus' acceptance of Zacchaeus, the latter was converted. The people who saw the encounter of Zacchaeus with Jesus were not happy about it.

 

They judged Zacchaeus for being a tax collector, a known cheater. We may reflect on the point that perhaps what pushed Zacchaeus to cheat were also the condemning people around him. Perhaps, since he was a child he had been bullied by others for being a short man. Zacchaeus must have then put his self-worth in money and thus began amassing wealth even in the wrong way. Perhaps, for the first time, somebody, Jesus, looked up to him with dignity. Hence, he experienced the saving power of acceptance.