“Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today” said Jesus as he was walking through Jericho. Immediately Zacchaeus offers half of his possessions to the poor and offers to pay back monies if need be. In Luke’s gospel it is written that the crowd grumbled and could not believe Jesus was going to a sinner’s home.  However, Jesus only sees an ability to give salvation to another soul.

I imagine myself watching this take place in Jericho and going home to share with my friends and family. I also imagine Zacchaeus sharing this experience with his family and friends.  How would I frame the story? As a critic who could not believe Jesus was giving attention to a sinner or as someone who was filled with gratitude and respect? An event such as this can cause a ripple effect like a pebble in a pond.

The story today continues to provide this ripple effect. Here I am in 2020 wondering what I would do?

I am hoping that I would be understanding, gracious and willing to accept that something good was happening or would happen.  That I, like Zacchaeus, would take an opportunity like this to be present, to take a risk and step forward, to trust and say yes to this gift.