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15th Sunday in Luke, OCALA January 29, 20006 In today's Gospel Lesson, we learned of the re-awakening of the conscience of a Tax Collector named Zaccheus. Zaccheus in his time, was in a very envied position, like so many people today, when it comes to defining only their worldly possessions. Zaccheus like so many, lacked nothing material. The world was at his fingertips. - Though despised by the Community at large, he could care less. -- It seemed, that his mission in life was to filch the people, - to fleece them, as we would say; - to drain from them, their very last dinar, so that he could give the Roman captors their share, and keep the lion's share for himself. He had nullified his conscience which made his soul hard and cold, as the wealth he possessed. It is not an oddity, that for so many people, like Zaccheus, before his conversion, that there is no saturation point; - no matter what their endeavors are, -- no matter how much they possess. For these people, greed is the name of the game. However, it does happen, that some of these unfulfilled, selfcentered and selfish people, do reach a point in their life, when they hear a loud knocking on the door of their conscience. - When this does happen, there are only two choices. - One, is to open the door of their conscience, and bring forth a complete accounting of their acts to balance their life, - or, the other choice, - to deafen their ears, so that they do not hear the pounding on the door of their conscience. Zaccheus was one of those people. He had gained the world,- but, had lost his own soul. -- All his riches, were not able to fill a certain gap he sensed within, ---- that is, the void, which he felt deeply in his soul. While he had everything, still a very basic element was lacking. -- Even though the world was at his beckoned call, having the complete support of the Roman Governor, -- yet, --despite all his power and all his wealth, he felt a tremendous void in his soul. He lacked, what everyone needs --- fulfilment. In spite of his unlimited possessions he felt spiritually famished and weak. However, at a certain psychological moment of his life, his conscience started shouting so loud, that it was deafening. - This psychological moment carne precisely at the time, that the Great Teacher, and Miracle Worker was going to pass through Jericho. -Zaccheus had heard of this wonder-Worker, and having sensed this great turbulence, that was rocking his soul, he felt so different all of a sudden. His wealth took a back seat. Some force within his soul was telling him, that even by seeing the Miracle Worker from a distance, he would be able to bring some solace, to his very troubled soul. He saw the crowds gathering along the main street, where the Lord was to pass, and he became flustered. How could he possibly see the Master over the heads of the crowd, when he was so short in stature. . Although it was surely undignified, for a man in his position, to climb up a tree in public, Zaccheus totally disregarded this, and decided at any cost to effect his decision. Nothing was more important for him, than to see the Miracle worker as closely as possible. He felt that something supreme was about to happen to him. Thus, he climbed up a sycamore tree, so that from there he was guaranteed an excellent vantage point. And here is a point dear Friends, from which we all can learn a powerful lesson in perseverance. That is, to firstly make a firm decision as Zaccheus had done; then, and more importantly, to follow through, no matter what obstacles may lie before us.- - Finally seeing the Lord from afar, Zaccheus is stricken with awe at the simplicity of Jesus, - yet, in this simplicity there was an indescribable Majesty, which all his wealth couldn't buy. He saw an extraordinary Countenance, -- he sensed the radiating spiritual beauty, - the warmth,-- the brilliance -- and he witnessed an ineffable happiness, which all his fortune could never buy! Zaccheus was also deeply impressed, by witnessing the powerful effect the Lord's love had on the multitudes. He saw Jesus stopping every few steps, to speak, and to bless the people. He felt the waves of radiance and love, emanating from the Lord's countenance, and reflecting on the people. Viewing this very powerful spiritual experience, he thought to himself, "Here I am, a person, who has everything and in abundance. --- yet I feel like a miserable pauper!" He deeply sensed, that he lacked the simplicity and the beauty of a pure life; and also the radiance and love, which he was witnessing. This whole scenario produced an unbelievable turmoil in his soul. For the first time in his life he felt the magnitude of humility. It seemed to have flushed his whole being. --- In those few minutes, until Jesus came under the sycamore tree, the miracle had already been effected.- A complete transformation had taken place in Zaccheus' heart. He was shedding off the old, miserable, and selfish Zaccheus, and was putting on the spiritual and invincible armor of the Lord. In those very few moments, he had diametrically changed his thinking and feelings.- His hardened heart, had completely mellowed. He had made the irrevocable decision, to totally resign himself to God. He did not care in the least, as some would, what people would think, seeing him up on the tree. His only care was, -what the Lord would think. So it was, that his personal pride, his selfishness, his arrogance, his greed, and his egotism were abandoned on the ground, and the small in stature, almost a midget, automatically becomes a spiritual giant on that tree. Like a flash, his whole life passed through his mind, and comparing it to what he saw before him, Zaccheus found himself to have been a truly deplorable and a most reprehensible person. Then, when the Lord came near the tree, He stopped and looked up directly into the eyes of Zaccheus; -- the omniscient Lord's eyes, went much, much deeper,-- all the way into the innermost depths of his soul; Jesus knew the tremendous spiritual transformation, which had taken place, and the purging of the old Zaccheus' mind and heart. Then, when the Lord said: "Zaccheus, - hurry down, because today, I am to visit with you in your house;" this became the crushing blow, which brought about the total destruction of the old Zaccheus; -- the man of old,-- founded on conceit, - on arrogance, -on false pride, -on egotism, - on slander, - on lies, --on extortion and force. - Miraculously, the midget in body and soul, is now transformed into a spiritual giant, and immediately he commences to rebuild over the ruins of the old Zaccheus, a new and vast spiritual empire. Publicly, he makes his first declaration, in commencing the rebuilding of his new spiritual empire. "Lord," he says, "as of this moment, I will distribute one half of my fortune to the poor; - and to those, whom I have defrauded, I shall restore fourfold." Thus, at that very moment, the victory is complete; --God's seal of the Kingdom of Heaven comes to Zaccheus, when the Lord says: "Zaccheus, today, salvation has come to your house." Beloved Friends: Our society today is full of the old Zaccheus type. --- And the very sad part is, -- that so many choose to remain spiritual midgets, and do not seek in any way to be transformed into spiritual giants, as was Zaccheus. We see so many spiritual midgets around us, flowing with the tide and accepting any situation, no matter how offensive it is to the moral law. And if someone questions their attitude of accepting the breaking of the moral code, the answer is heard in two favorite words: --- "So what?" These two words, are not only an unfortunate phrase, but they can be considered very dangerous words, because they have the power to erode and destroy the very foundation of society. When we hear these two words, "so what?" rest assured, that every principle in life is compromised. On this point, I bring to mind the great Preacher and Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, who once made a statement I shall never forget; and you all shouldn't either. He said: ----"Right is right, even if one person in the whole world is right; and wrong is wrong, even if the ,, whole world is wrong!" What a true axiom! -- Unfortunately, so many humans reason, that because of the fact, that people may steal, or cheat, or lie, or slander, or are immoral, -- this sort of justifies it, and makes it right for those who are spiritual midgets; -- Their justification is: --- "well, - everyone's doing it!" -- Unfortunately, -- this is the meter used by so many people; - but be assured, -- that all the wrongs, do not make anyone or anything right. ------ Yes, --- it's so unfortunate my beloved,-- but people of their own choosing remain spiritual midgets, even though they are not fulfilled, or may be plagued with so much unhappiness. They choose not to listen to the reprimands of their own conscience. - Fortunately, the miraculous transformation of Zaccheus, who found true happiness, and resulting in his entrance to the Kingdom of God is a reality; Zaccheus became a role model, of how one's life can be transformed! I am convinced my dear Friends, - that more than at any other time in the history of the world, there is such a great need for Christians, to make their decision, and to get a firm grip on their lives, so that finally, they may come to fully understand their mission and destiny in life. -- People should actively seek to be transformed, --- as was Zaccheus,--- so that from spiritual midgets, they may become spiritual giants! +Fr. George Papadeas
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