Seeking Zaccheus
November 4, 2007

Readings for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1: Wis. 11:22–12:2

Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 145:1–2, 8–9, 10–11, 13, 14

Reading 2: 2 Thes. 1:11–2:2

Gospel: Lk. 19:1–10

Link to Readings

By Father Frank Pavone

The story of Zaccheus is not only a marvelous example of redemption and restitution. It is a profound lesson that the redemption of the human person is the Lord’s priority, and that carrying out that priority requires breaking through the false barriers that people set up between one another.

Zaccheus couldn’t see Jesus because of his small stature and because of the crowd. Apparently, nobody in the crowd was making a move to help him, either. So he took matters into his own hands, ran out in front, and then climbed up a tree. Aside from all this, Zaccheus was looked down upon because of his role as chief tax collector.

The Lord showed His eagerness to seek out those whom others are tempted to look down on. Jesus sought him out, not only by giving Zaccheus attention, but by dining at his house.

Jesus breaks down the false barriers we place between certain kinds of people and others; he goes first to those who are pushed aside by the crowd.

“You Are All One in Christ Jesus”

Jesus always acknowledged the equal human dignity of every individual, despite what common opinion might say. Hence we see Him reach out to children despite the efforts of the apostles to keep them away (Mt. 19:13–15); to tax collectors and sinners despite the objections of the Scribes (Mk. 2:16); to the blind despite the warnings of the crowd (Mt. 20:29–34); to a foreign woman despite the utter surprise of the disciples and of the woman herself (Jn. 4:9, 27); to Gentiles despite the anger of the Jews (Mt. 21:41-46); and to the lepers, despite their isolation from the rest of society (Lk. 17:11–19).

When it comes to human dignity, Christ erases distinctions. St. Paul declares, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave or free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28).

We can likewise say, “There is neither born nor unborn.” Using this distinction as a basis for the value of life or the protection one deserves is meaningless and offensive to all that Scripture teaches. The unborn are the segment of our society that is most neglected and discriminated against. Christ Himself surely has a special love for them.

Love the Weak and the Strong

The Church, through which Jesus continues to carry out His mission today, does the same thing, and therefore speaks up for those pushed aside by the crowd, especially the smallest of the small, the unborn.

Their lives, like ours, are not just the handiwork of God, but a continuous proof of His love. The first reading reminds us that at every moment God is sustaining each one of us with the breath of life. We would fall back into nothingness at once if God did not have His love focused on us in an uninterrupted way. To snuff out a life, therefore, whether of the born or the unborn, is a direct contradiction to God’s loving will, which sustains all things in being.

We cooperate with the life-giving love of God each time we reach out to those around us who may be unsure about how to handle their pregnancy, and give them the strength to love their unborn child. We do likewise when we strengthen those who care for the vulnerable, the disabled, and the dying. By helping one another grow in love for the weakest in the human family, we and they literally become more like God, for (as the we hear in the first reading), “How could a thing remain unless you willed it, or be preserved, had it not been called forth by you?”

Indeed, the story of Zaccheus is not primarily about him seeking Jesus; it’s about Jesus seeking him, as He seeks all those who have been pushed aside by the crowd. May He strengthen us to seek them as well.

Father Frank Pavone is the national director for Priests for Life and a member of CUF's advisory council. He is a contrubutor to Lay Witness magazine.

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