Homily

Every time I hear this Gospel, I'm always impressed by the enthusiasm of Zacchaeus for Jesus, so enthusiastic that he's willing to climb up a tree, like a little boy, to see him coming down the road. So eager to be closer to Him that he hurries to climb down the tree, and notice that he does so without asking a single question like, "Why do you want to stay in my house?" And before Jesus says another word, when he hears the complaints of some in the crowd, he blurts out to Jesus that he most generously supports the poor and if he cheated anyone he pays back four times the amount. Somehow he knows that these actions would speak the loudest to Jesus, and describes him best. He doesn't say he goes to the Temple everyday, or that he's read the Torah 20 times, or that he keeps a perfectly kosher home. Unlike the Rich Young Man a bit earlier, Zacchaeus' money is not an obstacle standing between him and God, and he is much more generous to the poor and needy than probably anyone else in that Jericho crowd with Jesus. Somehow he "gets" who Jesus is, and because Zacchaeus is willing to put his money where his faith is, he is excited about this Man of God Who wants to stay in his house. He's excited, enthusiastic, intensely interested in, fervently focused on Jesus. The Rich Young Man went away sad after meeting Jesus, but he kept all his cash. Zacchaeus give away half his income, welcomes Jesus to stay with him, and he is joyful about all of it, missing nothing.

But I want to focus on his enthusiasm for Jesus. Enthusiasm, an eager or intense interest in Jesus; how much enthusiasm do I have? Shouldn't I be enthusiastic about Christ, joyful in His presence, willing to risk ridicule and the bad judgment of other people because of my faith in Him? Shouldn't I be zealous as a Christian, excited about my relationship with the Lord?

Enthusiasm about someone or something can be a sign that the person or the thing is highly valued by me. And I suppose that there are different ways to show enthusiasm. Generally we probably think of it as having a certain emotional element, as in when an ardent local football fan declares "Go Ducks!!!" The opposite is, for example, when you hear a caller on the radio say, "Thanks for taking my call, go Ducks." You don't hear enthusiasm there, just a sense of obligation to repeat the required magic words.

It's not clear to me exactly "how" I ought to be enthusiastic for Jesus, but I believe I should be, right? Should I be enthusiastic in a more emotional kind of way with feelings of zeal and devotion? Or is it also fine if it's mostly done just by my great devotion and willingness to put Christ at the very head of my life by my rational choices even if there's not always a whole lot of feeling behind it? Because you know today most people cannot find the truth unless they're "feeling it." I think you can demonstrate enthusiasm in both ways, rationally as well as emotionally.

But looking at it from a different perspective, I can ask myself what are the things I am enthusiastic about; those things that bring me joy or warmth or satisfaction? "Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens . . . . . . bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens?" . . . . . . Brown paper packages tied up with strings . . . . . . " People can be enthusiastic about sports, or music, or events, or travel, or awards, or TV programs, or their kids, or video games, or shopping, or Facebook — but on our lists of things we are enthusiastic about, could we find the name "Jesus" written down? There's nothing wrong with having enjoyment or satisfaction necessarily with any of those other items if we keep them in proper balance. And yet I find I do need to question myself and consider whether or not I'm looking for my satisfaction in people, events, and things more so than I am in Christ. I ought to consider whether I put a whole lot more energy and devotion into things that I can control, rather than into being a disciple of Jesus. Am I more like the Rich Young Man who stands and hold up my list. "I have done these good things, and tried to stay away from these bad things" but there is not much of a connection between myself and the Lord? Or, am I more like Zacchaeus who is filled with joy that Jesus would come to my house? Do I want to be?

Our faith should never depend on our emotions, but that doesn't mean our emotions have no place in our Christian lives. We have feelings about all the people who are most important to us. If it's been a long time perhaps since we have felt glad in the Lord, or sad for our sins before Him, it might be that we have gotten off track and allowed other people and things to become more important than our Savior. If we have lost our focus, we can turn our eyes back to the Source of our Life and put our priorities back in proper order. So that we can find, from time to time, a genuine enthusiasm and joy when we realize Jesus wants to come and stay with us, because every time He comes He brings salvation to our house.

Every time.