Encounter our Lord Jesus!

Sunday Gospel Reflection 10/30/22

In 2021, 19-year-old Anne Wilson released her debut single, “My Jesus,” which would peak at #1 on the Billboard US Christian and later become a certified gold hit.¹ The song’s characteristics resemble a crossover of gospel/country music styles with a sing-along hook exclaiming, “Hallelujah.” The heart of Wilson’s song is the realization of the brokenness of the human experience, which makes the song even more relatable for listeners that no doubt helped the song soar to number one on the US Christian charts.

Wilson sings:

Do you feel that empty feeling?
'Cause shame's done all its stealin'
And you're desperate for some healin'
Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus

In the Sunday gospel for last week, Jesus tells us a parable Lk 18:9-14 that compares a pharisee who presumes his righteousness before the Lord to a Tax Collector who is desperate for healing and throws himself at the mercy of God. What is unique to Luke’s gospel is what Elizabeth Scalia describes as a belief “grounded in plausible and subtle human reactions and responses.”²

And so, the gospel for this Sunday about Zacchaeus, being unique to Luke, is narrative in form to convey the human response of a sinner who needs a personal encounter with our Lord Jesus. It is the application of the last week’s parable in real-time. The narrative tells us that Zacchaeus is a wealthy tax collector who desires to see Jesus, but because of his short stature, he is prevented from seeing Jesus because of the large crowds following Him.

So, what does Zacchaeus do? He lives out the humility of Jesus’ parable from last week’s Sunday Gospel by humbling himself before the Lord. Pablo T. Gadenz notes, “He is not afraid to make a fool of himself for Jesus’ sake.”³

Jesus looked up at this sinful man who was not afraid to look like a fool to encounter Jesus and said to him:

Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.⁴

Zacchaeus knew he was broken from the sins of being a tax collector. He was willing to do anything to encounter our Lord because he desired to pour out the ego-drama in favor of the gift of the grace of his role to play in the theo-drama. Zacchaeus desired no longer the finite portion but wanted to fill his cup with the infinite portion, our Lord Jesus Christ. And so, Zacchaeus cooperated with God’s grace, and what was the result? “he came down quickly and received him with joy.”⁵

He makes a way where there ain't no way
Rises up from an empty grave
Ain't no sinner that He can't save

– Anne Wilson

Zacchaeus gives half of his property away and gives restitution to those whom he extorted as a tax collector. Jesus says in response, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”⁶

If the brokenness of life has you feeling lost, go to our Lord in prayer and ask for the grace to be healed by His presence and the Holy Spirit. Take the brokenness of sin to our Lord in the sacrament of confession, confess your sins, and do penance. Finally, Our Lord, through His bride, the Church, has given us the source and summit of our faith—the Eucharist. Partake and eat of Him who will help give you peace and amend your life, bringing you salvation.

And If you have found salvation in our Lord Jesus, then go, and tell others about your Jesus.

1. American certifications – Anne Wilson". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 5, 2022.

2. Elizabeth Scalia, “Introduction to the Gospel of Luke,” in The Word on Fire Bible: The Gospels (Park Ridge, IL: Word on Fire, 2020), 286.

3. Pablo T. Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke, ed. Peter S. Williamson and Mary Healy, Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2018), 315.

4. (Lk 19:5, NABRE).

5. New American Bible, Revised Edition. (Washington, DC: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2011), Lk 19:6.

6. New American Bible, Revised Edition. (Washington, DC: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2011), Lk 19:10

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