'Zacchaeus was anxious to see to see what kind of man Jesus was'
Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time - Reflection on the Gospel Luke 19:1-10 30 October 2016 Zacchaeus was anxious to see to see what kind of man Jesus was Zacchaeus desires to see Jesus. In order to do so, he does the unthinkable. He climbs a sycamore tree, risking derision, particularly as a public figure in an unpopular and much-maligned profession. The attraction of Jesus is so powerful for Zacchaeus that fear of what others might think and potential ridicule cannot deter him. His eagerness to see Jesus is sufficiently strong to overcome any negative response he might encounter. What had he heard about this man that made him want to see Jesus? Luke tells us that Zacchaeus wants to see Jesus, but this appears to be more than simply idle curiosity about physically seeing Jesus. Perhaps, God has been working in Zacchaeus so that he has already moved towards conversion in his heart. In seeking to see Jesus, Zacchaeus takes a first step and Jesus responds. Then, when Jesus addresses him...