IN THAT MOMENT HE LOST EVERYTHING AND HE FOUND EVERYTHING!
Who am I writing about? I am thinking of Zacchaeus the wealthy tax collector to whose house Jesus invited Himself.(Luke 19:1-10) And He does the same for every single home everywhere. Yes, into every home in the Bucket He would like to be invited for dinner. Stay with me now, please, Every household has several weeks now to get ready for His coming.
When I first heard this gospel as a child it made me laugh out loud. To picture a wealthy and corrupt tax collector so eager to see Jesus but too short to see over the crowd that he had to climb a sycamore tree. And that is where Jesus spotted him and called him by name.
That is a funny picture and it was Jesus who got the joke. Maybe He appreciated the eagerness and rewarded it. Jesus wanted to dine with him and He wants to dine with each of us wherever and whoever we are. He is always knocking at the door of our hearts.
"ZACCHAEUS, COME DOWN QUICKLY FOR TODAY I MUST STOP AT YOUR HOUSE,"
Being called out by name delighted the tax-collector who was an object of scorn and hatred for most. And the kindness of Jesus immediately affected the tax man and without being asked he turned to Jesus and made a quick promise: "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."
How did Jesus receive this indirect confession and self-chosen penance?
"Today salvation has come to this house," the tax man cleaned up his act. So should we.
Aren't those the words that we want to hear?
Throughout the entire season of Advent, Jesus is calling us each out by name and wondering what we are doing wandering around shopping malls when He wants to be a guest in our home.
So we have the Season of Advent to clean up our act and get the house of our hearts ready to receive a BABY.
What is more wonderful than the coming of a Baby into this world?
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