Breaking the Word

He came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house." And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, "He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner." But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost." (Lk 19:1-10)

Zacchaeus was a tax collector, he was a wealthy man and he was short in stature. As a tax collector he was considered to be a sinner by the people. Jesus came to bring good news to the poor but Zacchaeus was a wealthy man and hence he was out of Jesus circle.  As the normal run of the events, Zacchaeus would not have been a follower of Jesus.

He was seeking to meet Jesus. His interest was not just intentional but it was also seen in action. He ran ahead and climbed the tree. He made a move to meet Jesus. This was considered positive by Jesus. The little effort made by Zacchaeus was rewarded by Jesus. His little effort made Jesus to relate with him. Jesus willingly offers to dine with him.

This relationship with Jesus makes him repent. He changed his life style. Zacchaeus was willing to set right his life and this in return made him associate with the poor. Zacchaeus’ interest was revealed in his action. This effort was rewarded by Jesus by offering relationship. And this relationship made him repent and set him back in the society. 

Now as he approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." He shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!" The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, "Son of David, have pity on me!" Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" He replied, "Lord, please let me see." Jesus told him, "Have sight; your faith has saved you." He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God. (Lk 18:35-43)

A blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. Blindness and begging need not go together. It only shows that a blind man is dependent. He depends on others for his living. He needs to be helped out for survival. He is on the roadside because he has no home of his own or he has been thrown out of his house. Blindness, begging, and roadside seem to describe the situation of that person.

But he has heard about Jesus. The blind man knows that Jesus is the son of David. He calls him by that name at the second time. The blind man is a Jew or at least he knows the Jewish traditions. He also knows the role of the son of David. Son of David has a messianic role Jesus has come to fulfil that. And this was the reason that the blind man asks for mercy.

Jesus sees the faith of the person. Jesus also sees that the blind man is a human person and he needs to be respected like any other person. Jesus does not ignore him as the crowd does. Even amidst the noise of the crowd Jesus goes out to show his concern for a single individual. Jesus sees the person, he also sees the faith of the person and Jesus sees the person as an integral (complete, whole ) person and that is the outcome (miracle)