Luke 19:1-10 2025/02/02 Osaka Church
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
Looking out from a high place, the town you are used to living in and the scenery you are used to seeing look so different that it will surprise you, while viewing the world from the same vantage point as usual, you can only see the same old sights.
In the monotony of our daily lives, the same human turmoil continues. We have become accustomed to the cunning and weakness of others and ourselves, and can only smirk. We have given up on life, saying, “That’s just how it is…” and live our lives with our eyes low and focused on the ground, trying to avoid as much trouble as possible, both physically and mentally.
This was the case with Zacchaeus, a tax official who collected taxes from his fellow Jews on behalf of the Roman Empire. He had long since become accustomed to the scorn of people who called him a “Roman agent,” a “heartless extortionist,” and a “filthy sinner,” and his guilt over his “lucky gains” had become numb.
But the reputation of a man named Jesus, about whom he had heard often recently, somehow struck a chord with him. It was reported that he had said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God,” which in simple terms means that “rich people cannot be saved.” “I guess I’m doomed…” Zacchaeus must have muttered to himself in self-deprecation.
One day, the whole town was in an uproar. Jesus had arrived. For some reason, Zacchaeus couldn’t resist running out of his house. But because he was short, all he could see was the backs of the crowd. He made up his mind, and, ignoring the people’s gazes, he rolled up his garments, panted, and climbed up a nearby fig tree. There he encountered Jesus’ gaze, which seemed to see into the depths of human sadness, the sadness that Zacchaeus hid even from himself. The laughter of the people mocking his childish behavior disappeared from his consciousness. All he could hear was Jesus’ call, “Come down.”
“I will stay with you today.”
Zacchaeus was instantly enveloped in the love that Jesus poured out upon him. Tears flowed. He saw the love of the Lord, who wanted to “seek out the lost” (19:10) and save as many people as possible. He was found. He repented, embraced the words, “I will stay with you,” and welcomed Jesus into his home, into his heart.
We too must follow Zacchaeus example and climb the tree with the burning desire to “meet Jesus.” Nothing new can be seen from the same old persepctives.
This Sunday, with the week of preparation for Lent just around the corner, the Church celebrates Zacchaeus conversion, and teaches that ” Zacchaeus tree climbing” means “the practice of prayer and fasting.”
This is not a mere mental change in way of thinking, of “changing your perspective a little.” It is hard work, both mental and physical. It is practice.
Do not grumble, “Oh, ‘practice’, after all…I will be tired and hungry.”
It’s natural to get tired and hungry because it’s the work of climbing trees. After all, if you want to meet Jesus, you must climb a tree.