In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God, Amen.
What, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, does it mean to be a Christian? Is it to know that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead? To pass a “religious knowledge” test? What does it mean to be a Christian?
Everyone knew that Zacchaeus was an evil man, he was an outcast among his own people. For conspiring with the Roman Empire, for cheating and stealing as much money as he could from his own people, he was a pariah among his own community and yet still not fully trusted by the Romans. He could, along with all the demons, pass a “religious knowledge” test, but was still outside the community.
And the Lord was passing through Jericho. Why Zacchaeus wanted to see Christ we do not know, but something interested him, something enticed him, and he was willing to risk ridicule—even from the followers of the Lord—and climb a tree to see him. The crowd would have been happy if this curiosity had occurred unnoticed, that Christ had passed by and no one saw the man in the tree; we, the people of God, often murmur against the Lord: “this person is not part of our community,” we complain, “the Lord has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”
But this sinner puts me to shame. Zacchaeus demonstrates to all what it is to be a Christian. “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold.” He has shown hospitality in his home, been generous with what he has received and repents not only with his words but by his actions.
And, despite the witness given to me, I fail at being a Christian. Despite the Gospel, despite the Church, I would rather have an intellectual religion, a mysterious faith, where I just need to think the right things, say the right things, and that is enough. And remaining in this state I am as a tax-collector and outside the community. But if I want Life, if I want joy, if I want Christ, then I must learn to act. “Not everyone who says to me,” Christ tells us, “‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in Heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
And so I must change. I must give up the idea that Christianity is about my opinion, what I think, but rather Christianity is about what I do. And this doing is as part of our Church, our community, where we—each of us—practise hospitality, generosity and repentance. We must welcome others, as well as accept the invitation of each other, we must give as well as accept the kindness of each other, we must repent as well as receive each other in forgiveness. And then, having been hospitable, having been generous, having been repentant, the Lord will say of us, “Today salvation has come to this house, since they also are children of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
To our crucified and risen God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who has revealed to us how to be Christians through hospitality, generosity and repentance, be all glory, honour and might, together with his unoriginate Father and the All-holy, Good and Life-giving Spirit. Amen.
Timothy, my son, the saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and suffer reproach, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Till I come, attend to the public reading of scripture, to preaching, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you. Practice these duties, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.
— First Timothy 4:9–15
At that time, Jesus was passing through Jericho. And there was a man named Zacchaeus; he was a chief collector, and rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it they all murmured, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaios stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.”
— Luke 19:1–10