2024/2/18 Osaka Church
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit
When Zacchaeus, the head tax official, heard that Jesus had come to town, he rash out of his house. However, because he was short, he could not see Jesus because he was blocked by a crowd of people. Then he climbed up the fig tree without worrying about other people. Jesus noticed his single-mindedness and promised him, “I’ll stay at your house today.”’
Behind Zacchaeu’s unusual behavior, where an adult pulled up the hem of his robes and climbed a tree without worrying about other people’s oppinions, were his many days living in darkness.
Tax collectors were people who were contracted to collect taxes on behalf of the Roman Empire, which ruled and tormented their fellow Jews. Naturally, they were hated by their compatriots as agents of Rome, enemies of the people, and traitors, hated like snakes and scorpions, and despised as “sinners.” These tax collectors would pocket part of the taxes they had collected and drowned their guilt in a luxurious lifestyle. Zacchaeus must have continued to hate himself like this. However, he couldn’t get out of it,so he continued to live his life in desperation and guilt.
One day, Jesus, who was known for his amazing healings and powerful preaching, came along and befriended the Gentiles and prostitutes, who were despised as “sinners” like Zacchaeus himself, and Jesus even ate with them. A strong desire to see Jesus arose in Zacchaeus’s heart. However, although he tried to run out, he could not see due to the crowd. He was not afraid to climb the trees.
Jesus saw everything in the passionate gaze of this man who was staring at him from behind the leaves of a fig tree. The Lord’s mission was to “search out and save the lost.” There, the Lord found a “lost person”’ who had lost sight of his life and was at a loss, and whose only hope was in Him.
When Zacchaeus received the Lord and saw Him in person, the hatred towards himself that had been tormenting Zacchaeus so far clearly changed to an attitude of “repentance”. At the same time, a joy that seemed to surge from the core of his body filled him. Not merely penance or atonement, but as an irresistible expression of his joy, he promised to give to the poor and to make restitution far beyond the amount of his wrongdoing.
Just like Zacchaeus, in our lives in this world, we have lost sight of our “life,” which is precious to God like a jewel. We treat our lives like stones on the side of the road, polluting and draining our minds and bodies. Even though we are aware that this is not the way to go, we are blocked by the “human barrier”’ of worldly thoughts and are unable to see the face of Christ. Isn’t this what we are like now, nearly a year after Easter, the memory of the joy we experienced at Easter has faded, and we are entangled in this world? But fortunately, we did not leave the church. We almost got lost many times. However, today we stand in this worship with Zacchaeus.
A journey to meet Great Lent, the only one which truly comforts us and gives us life, a journey to recover the vivid image of Jesus. A journey where the joy of “resurrection” awaits at the end…The most important thing for those of us who are about to embark on this important journey is a sincere desire to “encounter Jesus.”’ This is nothing more than sharing of Zacchaeus ‘s earnest desire to see the person called Jesus. If we have this desire, Great Lent’s experience of prayer and self-control will surely lead each of us to encounter Christ.