In today's Gospel, Luke 19: 1-10, Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, who gained his wealth by cheating people, learns that Jesus is passing by his house. He is a short man so he climbs a sycamore tree to get a glimpse of Him. Jesus looks up and says: "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house." Quickly, Zacchaeus comes down and joyfully receives Jesus into his house, and vows to make restitution to those he has cheated: "'Behold, half of my possessions [and he is a wealthy man], 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."
Jesus sees and knows who is seeking Him even when the person him/herself does not realize that one's frantic engagement in this and that, running here and there, switching jobs and relationships feverishly is actually a search for the Divine, for the Reconciler, for the One who really brings salvation to one's "house." And as urgent as a person's search for that which he/she believes is the answer to his/her problems, just as urgent is Jesus' invitation: "Come down quickly," Jesus says to Zacchaeus. He says the same to us: "Come quickly; salvation has come to your house today"! Jesus does not want us to delay our coming to Him or letting Him come to us with the gift of salvation!
Am I, are you, willing to step off the speeding "train"of distractions and spend time with Jesus? will you, will I , accept Jesus' invitation today? He truly wants to bring salvation to our "houses."
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