C: 31st Sun of OrdTime (3 Nov 2019) - SHORTNESS OF LIFE (LK 19:1-10)

If we are to ask who is the richest in Jesus’ time, a top contender will definitely be Zacchaeus. Aside from the fact that he is mentioned in Lk 19:2 as rich, he is identified as the only chief tax-collector in the New Testament. Meanwhile, there are many tax-collectors in the Gospels, but the only one we know by names are Matthew/Levi (Mt 10:3/Mk 2:15) and Zacchaeus. Between the two, Zacchaeus held the higher position being the chief of all tax-collectors. However, there is one distinct weakness/limitation in him as he is portrayed to be small of stature (v. 3). For this reason, he would need to climb a sycamore tree to be able to see Jesus in person, who was being followed by a huge crowd (v. 4).

Most English bibles infer the meaning of lack of height to the original Greek word hēlikia, viz., “little/small of stature” (ASV, KJV), “short in stature” (NAB, NRSV) and “short” (NIV, WEB). Nonetheless, if we refer to Greek lexicons, we will discover that the usual meaning of hēlikia is “the period of time that one’s life continues; age; time of life” (cf. BDAG). Accordingly, in the Gospels hēlikia is used as such, primarily as a reference to the time of one’s earthly existence. Take, for example, the instance when the parents of the blind healed in John remarked, “Ask him; he is of age (hēlikia). He will speak for himself” (Jn 9:21, 23).

Technically, albeit merely hypothetical, it is possible to interpret Zacchaeus’ predicament as follows “He was trying to see but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was very young” or “… because he had only a short time to live” (a paraphrase of Lk 19:3). The latter imaginative supposition that he-is-about-to-die understandably puts Zacchaeus in real serious trouble in the story, since despite the riches he possessed and the political influence he enjoyed, he had no control of his own life. Life is indeed short, and most probably, he must have heard that Jesus earlier said: “And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life (hēlikia)?” (Lk 12:25; par. Mt 6:27). This may also be the reason why he was very adamant in seeing Jesus, for he knew that he was the only one who could perform miracles, capable even of raising the dead as he did earlier in Nain, bringing to life the dead son of a widow during his very funeral (cf. Lk 7:11-17).

Indeed, Zacchaeus was overjoyed upon learning that Jesus would stay in his house to dine. He had all reasons to rejoice since, despite being considered by the public as a sinner (Lk 19:7), Jesus paid special attention to him. As a matter of fact, Jesus knew his very name “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down” (v. 5). By saying so, Jesus already performed a great miracle since this act prompted Zacchaeus to be instantly converted, proclaiming boldly, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay four times as much” (v. 8).The narrative summarizes the whole episode perfectly: “For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost” (v. 10).

We are certainly exposed to more and more people dying on a daily basis. Some die because of accidents, but many because of ailments. A good number of them suffer terribly before they finally succumb to death. Yesterday, we celebrated All Souls’ Day to remind ourselves to pray for our departed loved ones. Indeed, we must continue doing so, but the greatest gift we can offer them is by ministering to more living persons on earth: guiding them properly with Godly values, attitudes, and disposition in living. Saying the right words and rendering compassion brought salvation to Zacchaeus. We can do the same to more living persons that we encounter. We are challenged by our gospel to be ministers of salvation to everyone, putting to reality Jesus’ words: “Today salvation has come to his house, because he too is a son of Abraham (v. 9).

- Rex Fortes, CM