Life Changing Tree

~~~ Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time ~~~

~~Wisdom 11:22-12:2~~Psalm 145~~2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2~~Luke 19:1-10~~ 

 

In one day Zacchaeus went from being the chief tax collector,

resorted to climbing a tree,

to having Jesus dine with him in his home and repenting.

 

Obviously Zacchaeus was a man of small stature,

 perhaps that is why he prided himself so much

as a chief tax collector and a wealthy man.

 

He was wealthy he had a good job, but yet something

was still missing in his life. You might say he had tenure.

 

He left the ground, his comfort zone, and climbed

 high above the crowd into a tree.

By doing so he removed himself from his usual surroundings.

He was no longer influenced by those around him.

He could for the time being escape the glaring stares.

Jesus sees him and calls him to come down.

Jesus wants to change his life forever.

 

"Zacchaeus, come down quickly,
for today I must stay at your house."

 

In his position, Zacchaeus had power, he had authority over his co-workers.

But now he is moved to be a generous and even honest man...

now he wants to make reparation for his wrong doings.

Zacchaeus convicted himself, Jesus never accused him of anything.

 

You cannot come into contact with Jesus and remain the same...

you must change...change for the better.

Meeting Jesus inspires you to be a better person.

 

 

...you overlook people's sins that they may repent.

 

God does not hold your past offenses against you.

 

Therefore you (Lord) rebuke offenders little by little,
warn them and remind them of the sins they are committing,
that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in you, O LORD!

God can remind you of your sins without uttering a word...

he may simply call you down from the tree or write in the sand.

He does not need a powerful job, he does not need material wealth;

he just wants to meet you where you are in this moment in time. 

 

If we are to be blessed

 it is because others are praying for us...

Paul writes to his friends...

Brothers and sisters:
We always pray for you,
that our God may make you worthy of his calling
and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose...

 

Someone you know needs prayers today.

Can they count on you?