He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Questions for Reflection:
When you compare a worldly way of looking at Zacchaeus and a Jesus view of Zacchaeus what differences come up?
What does Jesus seem to see in Zacchaeus that the pharisees and others miss?
Zacchaeus's actions were a response to the grace shown to him first by Jesus. How is that impactful on you and your walk of responding rather than performing?
Prayer of the Week:
Father, Son, Holy Spirit I am so excited that I get to live this day united to You in the very depth of my being. Thank you Jesus for reconciling me to my Father in heaven who loves me very much. Thank you Spirit for filling me afresh with the very presence of Jesus. I receive You now and consecrate myself to You and Your purposes for me this day. I am Yours and You are mine.
Jesus, I want to know You more today. I do not want to know You just in my mind and thinking but know You in my experience of today’s life. Your presence brings life and hope, joy and passion. I come to You Jesus and invite You into every crack and crevice of my being and every moment of my day. I surrender to You. Jesus, there are parts of my heart, soul, mind and body that simply need Your presence, healing and wholeness. I open myself and my story up to You in these moments of prayer and ask You to help me notice where in me … I need You today.
(Take a couple of moments of open reflections asking Jesus to reveal places in your heart, your schedule, your plans, your relationships… etc. that need His touch. As He shows you simply ask Him to meet you there.)
Jesus, I am amazed at Your love for me and all people. I love the idea of being Your ambassador, bringing the message of reconciliation with the Father, to the people around me, by what I say and do. I get to be salt and light in Your name. Jesus, with You living in me, I long to be fully present in my conversations and relationships today. I am so easily distracted toward lifeless, life-zapping things. I turn from those and ask You to graciously fill me with Your presence freeing me to be present ….. with Your Presence today. I get to see people, really see them today engaging them with an open heart. I get to pray for them and maybe even with them. I get to be fully present knowing You are working in and through me to bring Your Presence into their life.
Thank you for giving me this kind of adventure to live in Your name today!
Amen
