We Are Saved In Unique Ways 因材施救

Thirty First Ordinary Sunday, Year C
Theme: We Are Saved In Unique Ways 因材施救

From what we can gather from the Synoptic gospels, at least two things happened at Jericho when Jesus was on his last trip to Jerusalem. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus healed two anonymous blind men when He left Jericho (Matthew 20:29-34). They called Jesus the Son of David which suits Matthew’s Messianic theme. In the gospel of Mark, Jesus healed blind Bartimaeus when He was leaving Jericho (Mark 10:46-52). The healing suits Mark’s Son of God theme. So, we know for sure that Jesus healed some blind beggars (it doesn’t matter whether there were one or two blind men and whether they were beggars or what not) in Jericho before He went up to Jerusalem. That the blind beggar was NOT anonymous suggests that Bartimaeus must have been a well-known figure in the Marcan community. But Luke chose to report another incident, not a miracle but miraculous none the less. When Jesus entered Jericho, He entered the house of Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector and a rich man (Luke 19:1-10). The story of Zacchaeus is meaningful in at least two ways.

First of all, Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and a wealthy man (19:2). In the eyes of contemporary Jews, he was a public sinner because he worked for the Romans to oppress his own kindred. Moreover, he must have been greedy and collected more than required. But Jesus comes to his defence and says, “This man too is a descendant of Abraham” (19:9). From the lips of the Lord, Zacchaeus was declared to be a descendant of Abraham. No matter how scandalous his previous life had been, he would also inherit the blessings God promised to Abraham! Even a public sinner is allowed to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven! It seems unfair in our eyes because righteousness is essential in keeping a society in proper order. What Zacchaeus did had been self-fattening, selfish and harming the common good. How can it be wrong to label him a sinner, can’t it? This is not a social discrimination as we understand today because this labelling was unable to cause Zacchaeus any harms or disadvantages in the society. At most, it acted as a “curb” on his unscrupulous greed! But when God shows Zacchaeus mercy, God is not contradicting His righteousness. Instead, God is righteous when He gives sinners opportunities to repent and forgive them when they do.

Secondly, the story of Zacchaeus reminds us of another tax collector whom God has also shown mercy. Matthew was a tax collector working somewhere near Capernaum in Galilee in the north. In the early phase of His public ministry, Jesus called him and eleven others to form the core of apostles, the foundation of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. However, it was in the final stage of the public ministry of Jesus that Zacchaeus was called. As mentioned above, all of us, whether we lead a saintly or scandalous life, are called to inherit the blessings pledged to Abraham. We are called to become saints and to partake in the eternal life of God. But each of our calls is unique! Jesus did not call Matthew by his name (5:27) but Zacchaeus by his (19:5). In the case of Zacchaeus, it must have been a very piercing experience when the Lord called him by his name! Indeed, every call is basically a call to personal reconciliation with the Lord. Moreover, their paths to sanctification were also different. Matthew received a “tougher” coaching for some three years and took up the heavy duty to be one of the pillars of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:14). The Bible does not tell us what Zacchaeus has accomplished in the early Church. But that his name was recorded in the gospel indicates that he was prominent in the Lucan community. In one tradition, Zacchaeus the tax collector was the first bishop of Caesarea. Thus, the call of Zacchaeus demonstrates that our paths to sanctification are unique. Some are called to be apostles and others beggars, bishops, deacons, hermits, nurses, priests, teachers and widows etc. We don’t have to hand over half of our possessions to the Church or to the homeless in order to be saved. Allow me to repeat once more, our paths to salvation, to sanctification are unique.

Zacchaeus’ charitable work reminds me of people who quote Paul out of context, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9) and “It is those who have faith who are children of Abraham” (Galatians 3:7), echoing the Lord’s defence of Zacchaeus. From these quotes, those people deny the merits of charitable works. But how can anybody be saved simply by faith alone? Doesn’t Paul continue to say, “Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love” (5:6)? Therefore, “faith only” doesn’t save but “only faith working through love” saves! Zacchaeus is a good illustration. Jesus’ call pierces his heart, prompting him to reflect how this rabbi knows his name the first time they meet. His faith in Jesus and his sincerity of repentant are shown by the subsequent actions Zacchaeus pledged to take. “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor”, i.e. faith working through love and “If I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over”, i.e. his sincerity of repentance (Luke 19:8). He must have honoured his pledge otherwise, the name Zacchaeus would not appear in the gospel of Luke. Who is able to see Zacchaeus’ faith without his charitable work (James 2:18)? Only God is and we are not God!

Our God is ineffable. Human languages are inaccurate in describing Him. At most, we can only apply anthropomorphism to make sense of Him. So, God has a face which nobody sees and lives. His strong arms deliver Israel, carrying him on His wings. He can be angry and jealous etc. So, in order to harmonize how an all-knowing and righteous God can be merciful, we read today that, “You overlook sins for the sake of repentance” (Wisdom 11:23). The text portrays God as a father, not as a judge. A father knows the mistakes made by his children but he is tolerant and overlooks those mistakes, hoping that his children will correct their mistakes and improve. A judge is sober and will never overlook details. Growth and development are not his concern. Fairness is. The God Jesus portrays is a father, not a magistrate. That is the good news!

Brethren! God must have called you. Are you on your path to sanctification? Perhaps you have turned lukewarm because there are too many things to handle in order to earn a decent living and to maintain a healthy relationship etc. You must have been very burdened. Zacchaeus too must have felt the squeeze of being a public sinner. Perhaps from his subordinates in the north, he had heard something about this rabbi from Galilee who didn’t mind dining with sinners. Zacchaeus “was seeking to see who Jesus was” (Luke 19:3) and found his salvation (19:9). What about you? Are you seeking to see who Jesus is and find your peace in Him?
God bless!
2019 Reflection
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