In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Brothers and sisters, Great Lent is approaching, and there are only 4 weeks left before it starts. Next Sunday the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax-collector will be read, where the tax-collector is represented as an example of humility.
In today’s Gospel reading another tax-collector, Zacchaeus, – not from a parable, but a real person, – gives us an example of a stunning, unreserved change of his life, an example of true repentance that appears not only in words but in deeds.
The Gospel tells us a moving story of the conversion of Zacchaeus from the way of injustice to a righteous life. He was a chief tax-collector in Jericho, the ancient city of Palestine. He was very rich, but his wealth was gathered through injustice. Tax-collectors had authority to collect customs on behalf of the Roman Empire, but typically they demanded more than was lawful in order to enrich themselves. Because of this they were hated by their fellow citizens, who regarded them as traitors and extorters.
At that time our Lord Jesus Christ was traveling with His disciples to Jerusalem shortly before His suffering. Right near the gates of Jericho He returned sight to a blind man who was sitting at the road. This amazing miracle became quickly known in the whole city, and a great multitude went out to see the Wonderworker.
Zacchaeus also sought to see Jesus, about Whom he had heard so many marvellous stories. However, being of little stature, he could not see Jesus through the crowd. So, he ran ahead and climbed a fig tree to see Jesus, who was going to pass that way. He didn’t even dream of inviting Jesus to his house being a sinful man, despised by all. But suddenly he heard these merciful words from the Lord: “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”
By His coming the Lord brought salvation to the house of Zacchaeus, who became a new person. From that time on, he started to distribute his wealth as fervently as he had previously hoarded his possessions. He said to the Lord: “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay him back four times as much.”
According to ancient tradition, Zacchaeus later became a companion of St Peter, who made him a bishop of Caesarea in Palestine.
“Today I must stay at your house” – the Lord says these merciful words to each of us also, when He comes into the house of our soul in the mystery of the Holy Communion. Since all will partake of the Holy Communion during Great Lent, the Church now offers us an example of how we should receive Christ in the house of our heart.
Zacchaeus is an example of true repentance.
Many acknowledge their sins and regret them, but very few actually change their lives, as did Zacchaeus, Mary of Egypt and many other great sinners, who became saints through repentance.
Why does our repentance not change our life? – Because it is not deep enough: we don’t feel how serious our sins are, therefore, they don’t bother our conscience too much. We have become used to our sins, as one gets used to a chronic illness.
Great Lent is given to us so that we seriously examine our life and overcome our sinful habits. This is impossible to accomplish without fasting. Fasting, by weakening our physical side, makes our spirit stronger. Only Great Lent gives us a real opportunity of true, fruitful repentance.
Amen.
