“‘Zaccheus, come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.’ And he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully.”

“Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a son of Abraham”

This is a story of homecoming. Of a man who knew he was a sinner. A man who was anxious to see the Lord—who did not allow impediments like his shortness to get in the way.

His desire was fulfilled—in abundance; salvation came to his house and Zaccheus welcomed Jesus joyfully. He was a sinner saved by God’s grace and forgiveness.

Iremember times of homecoming in my life. One of these was when I participated in a Life in the Spirit seminar.

I was like Zaccheus with an inner need--I wanted to catch a glimpse of Jesus, to encounter him through the Holy Spirit. But there were impediments in my way— my lack of faith, my doubts that God loved me and wanted to forgive me, and the hurts and experiences I had suffered from my childhood that left me wounded.

So deep was my desire that I was prepared to open my heart and be rid of all these obstacles.
The moment arrived—when Jesus reached the spot and spoke to me through those who were about to pray with me.

I was asked-- what gift would you like to receive from the Lord? And almost without thinking, I said—the gift of love. 

So they prayed with me and I left the seminar peaceful and thankful.

I went home and knelt down by my bed and began to thank God for the gift of love that he had given to me that night and all of a sudden-- to my great surprise and amazement-- I felt as if my scalp was opened and a river of love began to be poured into me. It was the love of God—in abundance—flowing over every square inch of my being.

It was Jesus saying to me ---Linda, come down and be free of all that has kept you in bondage—I must stay at your house tonight.

I knew that I was a sinner but God loved me anyhow and was sharing his love with me in a tangible way and I welcomed him joyfully. Salvation had come to my house.

I felt like my heart would burst open with the vastness and abundance of this love and I wanted to run up the street at that midnight hour and shout to the whole world of the love of God for us all. And I have never stopped.

Lord, we thank you that you are a God who looks at the heart and you see the Zaccheus in us –anxious to see what kind of man you are-- to catch a glimpse of you. Thank you that you are a God who looks up and sees us even when we may be trying to hide. You acknowledge our presence and call us forth to experience salvation and freedom.

We ask your forgiveness for the times when we complain when we see what is happening; when we see a priest or a lay person, a mother, a teacher, a wife or a husband showing compassion and forgiveness and we criticise their words of encouragement—their offer of salvation to those we call sinners.

We pray for our country in this election season –when nasty accusations have been made against this leader or that. When there are Zaccheuses out there, even among those we call criminals and we hear ourselves saying: he has gone to stay at a sinner’s house.

We thank you for those who stand their ground. They acknowledge their sin and are willing to give restitution—to give half of their property to the poor and to give four times the amount stolen from anyone.

Gospel Meditations for November are by Linda Wyke. An active member of the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, San Fernando, Linda, a mother and grandmother, is a former Archdiocesan Director of Religious Education.