This Sunday, we begin our cycle of pre-Lenten Sundays with Luke’s telling of Zacchaeus and his encounter with our Lord. We could all probably retell this story by heart, but the important thing to reflect on is Zacchaeus and his willingness to repent, change his ways, and follow our Lord.
When Jesus told Zacchaeus he was going to break bread with him, the people immediately judged—“but Zacchaeus is a known cheat and sinner…” How often do we, ourselves, sit in judgement of others when they stray from their faith life or the Church and make an effort to come back? How often do we judge others for their sins and shortcomings while neglecting to address our own?
Our Lord teaches us that no one is too far gone to repent and be part of His mission. Zacchaeus, through his Repentance and changing his life (paying back those he cheated fourfold) and following our Lord should be a great example for all of us. It is not enough just to “tell” our sins; we need to make a change in our lives. We need to change our behaviors and how we treat and respond to others.
May we use this lesson as an inspiration as we prepare to enter the Great Fast in a few short weeks. May we focus on what our Lord asks of us and our willingness (or perhaps unwillingness at times) to follow Him and do His will. May we experience the joy and richness of the conversion of soul that Zacchaeus experiences and serve our Lord, our Church, and our world in the way that Jesus taught us.
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