Written by Richelle Thompson
Luke 19:8 (NRSV) Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.”
My knowledge of Zacchaeus comes mostly from the children’s song. Here’s the earworm: “Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he.”
While this song continues to play in the stereo of your mind, let’s talk about Zacchaeus: a tax collector and, according to his neighbors, a sinner. Whether Zacchaeus is cheating the farmers or simply following the rules of the land, he is still making a lot of money off the labor of others. But something inside of Zacchaeus makes him want more (the name Zacchaeus, after all, means pure). So Zacchaeus climbs a tree to catch sight of this nomadic preacher called Jesus, and the encounter is transformational. Zacchaeus immediately gives up half of his wealth in testimony to the Lord and commits to a life of service and witness. Meanwhile the neighborhood grumbles about Jesus’ choice for dinner companion.
Lord, help us be more like Zacchaeus, curious and earnest, and keep us from being quick-to-judge and slow to see you in every face and every place. Amen.
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