My wife is on the shorter side so she has always had a great love for the story of Zacchaeus, the wealthy tax collector that was too small to see Jesus over the crowd so he climbed a tree in order to see better. For many years she was a catechist and loved telling that story to children because by their age alone they were short. My wife and Zacchaeus are proof that good things come in small packages. But Zacchaeus’ size is not why Jesus showed him favor. It was his faith in Jesus and his eagerness to serve him.
Climbing a tree is not always a safe way to gain a better vantage point to see. But if you were really moved to see someone very important, you might risk it. Hosting someone in your house that you admire or want desperately to please can be nerve-racking. But the chance to be near that person and show your love makes it all worth it. And it is not an easy commitment to change one’s entire life and become a new person. But if you believed that the one asking you was the source of all life, the commitment might be seen as a necessity.
We should pray every day for the desire and excitement of Zacchaeus when it comes to our relationship with Jesus Christ. If we are intentional disciples, we have had an encounter with the Lord much like Zacchaeus. However, our decision to live a stewardship way of life can sometimes be delayed. If we are like Zacchaeus, our sheer love of Christ will propel us to give all we have to him and resolve to live transformed lives of generosity. No matter how small we are it is the enormity of our love for God, and his love for us, that makes all the difference.
Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS
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