Jesus invited Zacchaeus down from the tree and into society. What do we do when others seek to come down from where they have climbed into trees?
Here’s a transcript:
I’m thinking about the nineteenth chapter of Luke’s Gospel (Luke 19:1-10): Jesus’ visit to Jericho and his encounter with a tax collector named Zacchaeus.
I remember this story fondly from my childhood. I wasn’t a tall boy, and so I rather sympathized with Zacchaeus, who wasn’t tall either. He wanted to see Jesus, so he went and he climbed a tree. He saw Jesus. Jesus saw him, called him by name and he invited himself to Zacchaeus’ house for dinner.
I don’t remember whether I thought that that was odd at the time (it would have been odd to have somebody invite themselves to dinner in my hometown). I do know from reading this text and reading commentaries since then that it was very odd. You see, Zacchaeus was a tax collector not for local authorities, but for the Romans. That made him a collaborator with a hated foreign power. It meant that most people would have considered him to be something of a thief, and something of a traitor.
This may not have bothered him— the wealthy tend to hang out with the wealthy, after all —and he could afford the dissatisfaction, even the scorn, of most other people in the community. But apparently he treasured the respect of Jesus.
Jesus called him down from the tree.
When somebody’s up a tree in our lives, and when somebody wants to make a change, it’s so easy to look at them and say, “Well, get yourself down. Get yourself out of trouble. Get yourself right.”
And, indeed, we need to take responsibility for our own actions. We need to make the changes ourselves.
But when we are at the bottom of the tree, and watching somebody take those first hesitant moves toward the ground, can’t we help? Can’t we be among those who say, “That branch there, that will take you. Put your foot there. And move your hand to this other lower branch. I know you can’t see it, but it’s there. Give it a try. It will hold.”
And when they get down from the tree, can’t we be those who welcome with a warm embrace? And say, “I am so glad to be coming to your house to have you welcome me and I welcome you to the solid ground.”
The ground of goodness and mercy and community.
That’s why Jesus called Zacchaeus down, so that somebody who had separated himself from those around him could be reunited, and a part of that city for good, and yes, for God.
That’s what I’m thinking. I’m curious to hear what you’re thinking. Leave me your thoughts in the comment section below. I’d love to hear from you.
