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In the name of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit!
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Today we have heard the Holy Gospel of Luke (Luke, XIX : 1-10), which describes how Jesus entered an ordinary town, a small, province of Jericho, and preached. And there was a man of small stature, but very rich. He was a tax collector and he had a lot of money, but he had no fun on his wealth. Seeking solace for his soul, he wanted to see Jesus and come to know who he was. Zacchaeus climbed up into a sycamore tree to see as much as possible, for Jesus was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came, he saw that man on a tree, called him by name and said: Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today." Why? Because he saw that the man climbed up into the tree to see Him, then surely this man would accept Him in his house? It is clear, Zacchaeus did his best among all who were present there. He did not walk somewhere just near, but did everything possible in advance to see and hear Jesus. And with great joy he would accept the words of Jesus and accept Him in his house. So Jesus says: " Come down, for I must stay at your house today."
Perhaps Jesus knew that Zacchaeus was a tax collector. Maybe He wanted, knowing that those people needed a particular support when they were coming to God, He wanted to help Zacchaeus in the beginning, for that tax collector did not fall away from salvation. For it is very important - to help a tax collector, who had been deceiving people for a long time, but then his soul began to repent. Or if it is today, it is very important to support a police officer who stops cars and always takes illegal fines, and here his soul begins to repent. That is, every person who had taken bribes or whatsoever, but then received his or her spiritual sight and began to repent, should obtain our help to make the first steps, we should bless such a person to direct him or her to the path of salvation. I understand why Zacchaeus climbed down from a tree with joy, as it is written in the Gospel and accepted Jesus in his house with great joy.
Why had he great joy? From the Holy Spirit who came down unto the man - Zacchaeus. And it is from this joy he began to speak under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of life, right? Not under the influence of the spirit of the devil, with the help of which Zacchaeus took away money from people, took away too much leaving a part for himself. And under the influence of the Holy Spirit, Zacchaeus says: "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold." You see, how the Holy Spirit spoke in him, as his soul rejoiced and he testified that his soul is saved.
Jesus was also very happy because such moments were the sweetest ones for the Savior. He said that salvation came that day to that house, that family, Angeles came to them. For this is the most important thing a person needs. Not collecting of money which leads to sadness of a heart, to fear that bandits or thieves will come and take that all, and most important thing a person needs is the ability to do good.
Here he gives. Yes, Zacchaeus gives. And the thieves would not come to him no more, because he already did not have anything illegal they wanted to rob. And al he had now was his legal property, not stolen. And it was guarded by angels and he did not even need any alarm for it as it was legally earned. If it is earned illegally, then no alarm will help.
So Zacchaeus gives and thus converts temporary wealth into eternity. And God, being very happy says: "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." That is, he tells us that Zacchaeus' soul was already lost. But it was given a chance to come to Earth and get here a blessing. And being there, it obviously had asked God to give him that chance. And when he came to Earth, his soul had received his sight, awakened when it saw the Savior. And Zacchaeus got strong blessing, that saving filling with the Holy Spirit that Jesus immediately felt
it and said: "Today salvation has come to this house".
Dear brothers and sisters in Salvation, let us take a lesson from the story about Zacchaeus and direct our lives so that our souls are often filled with the Holy Spirit through our faithful acts - and then salvation comes from God for us and for our families.
The blessing of God upon you!
Glory to Jesus Christ!
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Apostle (1 Timothy 4:9-15):
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9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance.
10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our
hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of
those who believe.
11 Command and teach these things.
12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the
believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of
Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.
14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by
prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.
15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that
all may see your progress.
Gospel (Luke, 19:1-10):
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1 He entered Jericho and was passing through.
2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief
tax collector and was rich.
3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of
the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature.
4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to
see him, for he was about to pass that way.
5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to
him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today."
6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.
7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, "He has gone in to
be the guest of a man who is a sinner."
8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord,
the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of
anything, I restore it fourfold."
9 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this
house, since he also is a son of Abraham.
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
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