31st Sunday of Ordinary Time 2022

“Where were you when” is often asked when the anniversary of a recent historical event rolls around. We stop to think of the circumstances we were in when we heard the news of tragic events like 9/11 or Superstorm Sandy. It also applies to pleasant happenings. I asked myself that question this week when the anniversary of the 2004 Red Sox World Series victory rolled around. I remember my excitement when the Red Sox finally reversed the curse after eighty-six years and won the World Series. After the Series, Boston staged a rolling rally to celebrate the victory using duck boats to transport the sports heroes on a procession through town. It has become the standard form of celebration for victorious Boston sports teams ever since. It seemed as if the whole city turned out to see the spectacle. People were excited and full of anticipation. They lined the streets, several persons deep straining to get a good view. Fathers hoisted their children up onto their shoulders so they could see. Those at the back stood on their tiptoes to catch a glimpse of the passing team. Everyone concentrated on the parade to see their favorite players. 

Imagine, if you will, a Yankees fan threading his way through the crowd that day. He is wearing a black Yankees cap pulled down over his forehead and a Derek Jeter pinstripe jersey. His presence luckily goes unnoticed by the exuberant fans. Try as he might, he can’t get closer to the front to get a better view. Therefore, he runs down the street, climbs up a tree, and goes out on a limb to see the parade.

The duck boat carrying Red Sox Designated Hitter David Ortiz comes down the street. Ortiz, a fan favorite, looks up and sees the Yankee fan dangling in the tree. He calls for the driver of the vehicle to stop. Ortiz calls out to the Yankees fan to come down and ride with him in the parade. The crowd is stunned! They think this can’t be possible! Doesn’t Big Papi know who this man is? Doesn’t he know this man is the most hated man in town? 

Today’s Gospel relates the story of a similar situation in the ministry of Jesus as He was traveling up to Jerusalem for the last time. Luke tells us Jesus’ route took him through the city of Jericho, where He stopped and invited himself to stay with Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector of the town. This incident in Jericho is very symbolic because Jericho sits in the valley of the Jordan River, very close to the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is almost 1,400 feet below sea level and is the lowest place on earth. In this spot, sitting below sea level, Jesus meets up with Zacchaeus. Although the name Zacchaeus means clean, pure, or innocent, Luke describes him as anything but those attributes. He is the chief tax collector of the region, a wealthy man betraying his people for profit and gain by collaborating with the forces of the Roman Occupation. The town’s citizens revile Zacchaeus as a serious sinner who is not welcome to worship in the synagogue. Zacchaeus was the most despicable character in Jericho and the most hated and isolated man in town. Besides being considered an outcast in his community, he is a short man. Symbolically, Zacchaeus is the lowest citizen of the lowest city on earth. He is the lowest man in the world.

Regardless of his background and the possibility of embarrassment, Zacchaeus decides to go out on a limb to see Jesus. Recognizing the moment’s urgency, Zacchaeus puts aside religious and social customs to try to get a glimpse of Jesus. Disregarding his own dignity, he acts like a child. Despite his fine clothes and age, he runs ahead of Jesus and climbs a tree. He goes out on a limb and makes a spectacle of himself, hoping to see Jesus walk below him. Zacchaeus does not expect to receive special notice from Jesus. All he wants is a clear view of Jesus, which he feels will be enough to help him be transformed and made new. Something in Zacchaeus moves him to go out on a limb, be open to Jesus, and answer the call to conversion. 

Despite Zacchaeus’ status as an outcast, Jesus does a remarkable thing. As He passes through town, He sees Zacchaeus perched up in a tree. Rather than seeing him as the lowest of the low, Jesus recognizes him as a sinner who longs for forgiveness. Jesus, amazingly, invites Himself to enjoy Zacchaeus’ hospitality that day. Zacchaeus immediately comes down from his perch and welcomes Jesus to his home with open arms. 

It is then that the tables turn. Rather than Zacchaeus being the host, Jesus becomes the one who welcomes Zacchaeus to a relationship and intimate friendship with Him. Jesus boldly invites Zacchaeus, the lowest of the low, to come and experience conversion. Jesus invites Zacchaeus to be cleansed of sin and live up to his name; to be pure, clean, and innocent again. Jesus wants Zacchaeus to realize that despite his lifestyle and the harsh judgments of the community and the synagogue, he was not beyond God’s loving mercy and forgiveness. Jesus wants Zacchaeus to know God is willing to fill him with the gift of grace and bring him the healing and wholeness he desires.

Zacchaeus accepts that invitation. The realization that Jesus would choose to receive him transforms Zacchaeus, and he embraces the call to conversion. Jesus’ acceptance completely changed the way Zacchaeus relates to others. He accepts his sinfulness and wants to be transformed by Jesus so he can be healed of his brokenness and live the fullness of life. 

Zacchaeus proves his worthiness of God’s forgiveness by coming up with a plan to make restitution for his sinfulness. He proposes a penance for his sins that is even stricter than the demands of the Mosaic Law. Rather than the 10% tithe the Law required, he pledges to give 50% of his wealth to the poor. He promises if he has extorted anything from anyone, rather than pay just the 120% penalty required under Jewish Law, he will pay the more stringent 400% required under Roman Law. Zacchaeus is evidence that no one is beyond God’s mercy, not even the lowest man in the lowest spot on earth.

Jesus went out on a limb to show the world even the most notorious of sinners are of value to God. He wanted to show the lost sinner could open themselves to God’s grace and become worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus wanted to show that God offered hospitality to all who love God. After Jesus dines with Zacchaeus, He will make His final ascent to Jerusalem. It is there Jesus will go out on the limbs of the cross. Jesus will do that not just for one sinner but for all of us. Jesus will not just sacrifice His reputation or wealth for sinners but will give up His life for us. Jesus will generously give His life on the limbs of the cross whether we appreciate it or not. 

Today, the scriptures want us to realize that compared to God’s enormity, our world is but a grain falling from the scale or a drop of the morning dew. Difficult as it is for the secular world to understand this immense God, he is watching over us and showering us with mercy. Despite God’s vastness, God knows each hair on our heads and wants us to receive God’s love and compassion. God wants to come to us so we can know a loving relationship with God’s only Son, Jesus. A patient God wants us to understand the Creator’s gifts of forgiveness, love, and mercy. God wants us to be saved and to know wholeness so we can answer the call to live our baptismal call to be clean, pure, and innocent. It is up to us to accept or reject a loving and caring God’s invitation to salvation. 

Like Zacchaeus, today is the day of our redemption. Today we must overcome everything inhibiting our faithfulness to Jesus. Today is the day we decide to go out on a limb. Now is the time to surrender our false dignity, run, climb, and do whatever is necessary to show we want to receive Jesus’ call to host him for a visit and accept conversion in our lives. What does Jesus want us to do to show our openness to that relationship? He wants us to host him in the home of our souls by taking time for prayer and learning about Him through the reading of scripture. Start doing that this week. Start reading some scripture, even if it is only a few verses. A good place to start is the Gospel passage for each day. Read only as much as causes you to pause and ponder. Set aside time for prayer, even if it is only shutting off the car radio or setting aside the smartphone for a few minutes to give God thanks and praise. Start enriching your relationship with Jesus just a little at a time.

Willingly surrendering some of your wealth is another way to strengthen your relationship with Christ. By wealth, I don’t only mean your money, although being generous with some of that won’t hurt. Give some or all your wealth, your time, talent, and treasure to build the Kingdom of God. It can start as basic as taking the time to share your appreciation of another person, exercising patience, giving the benefit of the doubt to another, or offering forgiveness to someone who has hurt you. 

Jesus wants to transform us just as he transformed Zacchaeus. Even if we believe we are the lowest of the low, God knows us and seeks us out. No one is beyond God’s mercy and love unless we make ourselves resistant to God. So come down out of our tree of shame to be welcomed by the love of Christ.

Shortly, Jesus will come to us in the real presence of the Eucharist. He will call us to accept the invitation to deepen our relationship with Him so it becomes the center of our lives. Jesus will come to us to offer us the same salvation that came to Zacchaeus’ house that day.