I must stay at your house today

Luke 19 : 1 - 10

He wanted to see who Jesus was....

It seems to me that much of what we do with our lives reflects a 'searching for something...' It may be simply the honest desire to provide well for our family; it may well be called 'trying to earn a living'. But at the same time, the search may manifest itself through all kinds of personal choices that may be all right or not, depending on one's conscience or moral values.

When I look around at people, on the streets, in the malls, I often wonder....what are they looking for? Do they even know why they are alive? Is there meaning and purpose in their lives? Or does the routine crowd out any thoughts of deeper meaning? Are they 'at home' with themselves, are they 'at home' in their own worlds? Is 'home' only a physical entity?

The wealthy man Zacchaeus in this lovely story has made some life choices.....to take on a tax collector's job, which would make him wealthy, and at the same time to be rejected as a 'sinner' by his own people. Was he satisfied with his lot in life? We cannot say for sure. But one thing we do know: the name 'Jesus' (and he had probably heard much talk about this 'Rabbi') intrigued him. He went to the trouble of trying to see Jesus. Imagine the almost comic description of a short man trying unsuccessfully to push through the crowd...and as a last resort climbing a tree. But his efforts paid off. Jesus looked up at him and invited himself to Zacchaeus' house. "I must stay at your house today"

I am truly grateful that Jesus has invited himself to my 'house', into my life. Otherwise, I would never be at home with myself or with what how my life unfolds. But with him at home with me, there is true meaning, even when it means that at times, in his presence, I will somehow know, like Zacchaeus, that I need to give up things that clutter up my life. We often place the emphasis on the seeker's choice of 'receiving Christ'. And of course that element is also crucial. But it is Jesus himself who makes the first move. Of course our short friend Zacchaeus, and we ourselves had to say 'Yes' and allow our Lord into our homes and lives. But nevertheless, the initiative is from the Lord. And that is something I hope to remember when I try to share my faith with others. I hope to help them hear the Voice that is issuing the invitation, to hear the One who is searching for all who are 'lost'.