Friendship with Jesus (Lk:19.1-10)

I'm always interested in sightseeing.

It is always interesting and nice to   get into the city of Cologne on the tower of the cathedral and from there a view of the city to have.Or  from the Church of Mary Help to have a view of the city of Passau. However, the climb needs exercise and effort . But the view makes us forget the effort and feel  pleased when we have the intented view .

For such a view we should   be a bit high and far. For the right view of  a tourist attraction you need distance and movement.

In today's Gospel we find the person of Zacchaeus. He wants to see the person of Jesus as a "landmark". Therefore Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree. Zacchaeus knows that it is small and it is not easy for him to see Jesus through the crowd. Therefore, he climbed a tree. The movement needed courage ad effort , even to be ashamed of the other people. But his strong inner desire to see Jesus, has motivated him. No matter what people think or say about him.

Jesus always had a fondness for such people. Therefore, he has the tax collectors, sinners, etc. praised and told that they may go to heaven - before the Pharisees. 

When Jesus wanted to be the guest of Zacchaeus,  this was a sign that  what he told in the parables of the lost sheep or the lost coin was true. Jesus himself is acting  it out  and  shows in his life.
He seeks the sinner. He came to forgive sins. This theme of  repentance -you all know, since your preparation for first Holy communion.

Jesus was a guest in the house of Zacchaeus, a sinner. We also want  Jesus  as the  guest in our home. In a table prayer, we pray: Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest. And even though we are sinners, if we honestly wish , he comes  as a guest in our house. 

  Sometimes, when one wins a lottery, gets    an invitation to have a dinner with a celebrity. Zacchaeus wins - to his great surprise -  a meal with Jesus. Zacchaeus, a tax collector and at that time regarded as a sinner is invited to have  dinner with Jesus, who is without sin. A meal is a sign of friendship and love.

Friendship with God is beautiful and necessary. A  meal with God can turn our lives. The life of Zacchaeus was reversed by the encounter with Jesus.
The celebration of the Eucharist - the heavenly meal - is an opportunity to remember our sins, as did Zacchaeus. He remembers his unjust deeds. This has led him to share with others.
The sacrament of penance and conversion to God is the result of friendship with Jesus.

The experience of Zacchaeus is very positive and hopeful.

 We are gathered here today to see Jesus and experience. Everyone must watch this desire to have him personally. And we must work hard and move: This can be a personal prayer, the quiet remembrance of God, to constantly be with him in relation to sometimes having  a different position  of  glance.
Good God, plese  Let us have good experiences with the friendship of Jesus. Amen.