Zacchaeus! Quick, Come Down!

Zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he ... when I hear the man's name Zacchaeus, I immediately begin singing this sweet little song in my head.  It was a happy song in my childhood.  But the story isn't feeling so happy when I really listen to what is happening, when I know the "back-story."  Tax collectors were powerful and despised by the people because they took advantage of the poor for their own gain.  As such, they were known as notorious sinners.  And this guy was the regional manager!  Even so, Jesus invites himself to the wee sinner man's house and gets into a lot of trouble with the people for offering to share a meal with him.  We can only wonder about the affect Jesus has on Zacchaeus ... He turns his life upside down to follow Jesus and the way of salvation!

When you are ready to lean into our passage for lectio divina and pray with me, take a few moments to center yourself by engaging in a simple breath prayer (6-8 syllables) like this one (or one that emerges from within yourself) until you are focused on God.

Breathe in ... Jesus, Savior (pause)
Breathe out ... Be my heart guest (pause)

Then pray for illumination of the text:  Loving God, you seek us when we are lost.  Open my heart, fill me with light, and give me insight.  Amen.

Step 1: Lectio/Reading … Reading
Read Luke 19:1-10 slowly and reverently, letting the words steep in your mind.   On this first reading, listen with all of your senses.  Let the passage play out in your mind like a film unfolds.  What do you see?  What do you hear?  What can you smell?  What can you taste?  What can you touch and feel?    Allow your senses to lead you into the text.

Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.  When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”  Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.  Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”  Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

Step 2: Meditatio/Meditation … Receiving
Read the passage a 2nd time ... Listen for a word or phrase that catches your attention.  Gently focus on that word or phrase.  Repeat it several times and allow it to be sifted through your heart and mind all the way to your soul. Pay attention to the thoughts and feelings the passage evokes within you.
What memories come to your mind?  Ask God to continue to speak to you through the word or phrase you've been drawn to.   Listen for God’s reply as you move through your day

Step 3: Oratio/Prayer … Responding
Consider any thoughts or feelings or desires that have been awakened.
Perhaps you have found an area of your life that needs attention.
Do not rush ... how are you drawn to respond to God?

Step 4: Contempatio/Contemplative Silence … Resting
Allow yourself to rest in the silence.
Allow your mind to settle into the silence.
Allow your heart to beat with the silence.

Allow your soul to breathe with the silence
When you feel the time to move on ...

Pray:  Thank you, Loving God, for loving me and for leading me through this passage.  Amen.