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In today’s Gospel (Luke 19:1-10), we heard the story of the encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus. I invite you to focus on the details of this passage. The encounter takes place in the town of Jericho, which is perhaps most famous for the battle that was fought there when the Israelites first entered the Promised Land at the end of the Exodus from Egypt. During that battle, the Israelite army issued battle trumpets, normally restricted to squad leaders, to every soldier. At night they marched around the city, blowing their trumpets and raised such a commotion, that the inhabitants of Jericho were terrified and surrendered without a fight. The walls came tumbling down.
Perhaps Luke, in his Gospel, wants us to see how other walls can come tumbling down. He writes that Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector and a wealthy man, has heard of Jesus and wants to see him. But Zacchaeus couldn’t see Jesus because he was too short to see over the crowds. So Luke tells us that he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see the Lord.
Jesus sees Zacchaeus in the tree, orders him to come down from it, and then says, “…today I must stay at your house.” It would appear that Jesus’ plans have changed and he is no longer simply “passing through” as he had originally intended. Zacchaeus came down from the tree quickly and received Jesus with joy. He repents, offers to give half his possessions to the poor, and repay --- four times over --- anyone he has defrauded.
And while the crowd grumbles at what they see, complaining that Jesus associates with sinners, they miss history repeating itself in front of their eyes: for here in Jericho, Jesus has broken down the walls of sin and greed that have surrounded Zacchaeus, and Zacchaeus has surrendered to Jesus’ trumpet call to become a disciple. Jesus tells him, “Today salvation has come to this house.”
Whatever tree we may need to climb to see Jesus, whatever tree we need to descend in order to embrace him, salvation awaits us, Jesus seeks us out, and with the gift of faith we respond. For into the heart and house of one who repents and welcomes the Son of God, salvation has indeed come. In grace we are called to it. With grace may we receive it and announce it to the world.
