Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house

20 NOVEMBER (Lk 19,1-10)

Before Jesus there is no consciousness that holds. This is revealed in every part, even the most hidden and concealed. The human heart for Jesus is more than an open book, written in block letters. Nothing is hidden from his eyes. On the contrary, everything is clear, manifest, evident. His eyes have the fullness of the science of God.

To the angel of the church in Ephesus, write this: ” ‘The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks in the midst of the seven gold lamp stands says this: “I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate the wicked; you have tested those who call themselves apostles but are not, and discovered that they are impostors. Moreover, you have endurance and have suffered for my name, and you have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: you have lost the love you had at first. Realize how far you have fallen. Repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place, unless you repent. But you have this in your favor: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. ” ‘”Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the victor I will give the right to eat from the tree of life that is in the garden of God.”

To the angel of the church in Pergamum, write this: ” ‘The one with the sharp two-edged sword says this: “I know that you live where Satan’s throne is, and yet you hold fast to my name and have not denied your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was martyred among you, where Satan lives. Yet I have a few things against you. You have some people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who instructed Balak to put a stumbling block before the Israelites: to eat food sacrificed to idols and to play the harlot. Likewise, you also have some people who hold to the teaching of (the) Nicolaitans. Therefore, repent. Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and wage war against them with the sword of my mouth. ” ‘”Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the victor I shall give some of the hidden manna; I shall also give a white amulet upon which is inscribed a new name, which no one knows except the one who receives it.”

To the angel of the church in Sardis, write this: ” ‘The one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says this: “I know your works, that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Be watchful and strengthen what is left, which is going to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember then how you accepted and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not watchful, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come upon you. However, you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; they will walk with me dressed in white, because they are worthy. ” ‘”The victor will thus be dressed in white, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name in the presence of my Father and of his angels. ” ‘”Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Cfr. Rev. 2,1-3.6).

Today, Jesus sees a man on a tree. However, he sees him not with the eyes of his flesh, but through the eyes of the science of his Father. He sees him in need of true salvation, because basically Zacchaeus is a person who seeks the true salvation and that he must come to the realization of this yearning and burning desire.

He came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”

Never might the men who are in sin see through the eyes of the Father. They see only appearances, but these are always misleading. Only God knows the heart and those who have eyes of Holy Spirit. Zacchaeus was really looking for salvation. His confession which is of the highest morality attests to it. He gives half of his possessions to the poor, and if he defrauded anyone he returns four times as much. When the grace of God meets with a hungry and thirsty heart for justice, a miracle always takes place.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints help us seek the Lord.