The paschal season of the Church
is preceded by the season of Great Lent, which is also preceded by its own
liturgical preparation. The first sign of the approach of Great Lent comes five
Sundays before its beginning. On this Sunday the Gospel reading is about
Zacchaeus the tax collector. It tells how Christ brought salvation to the
sinful man, and how his life was changed simply because he
"sought to see who Jesus was" (Luke 19:3). The desire and effort to
see Jesus begins the entire movement through Lent towards Pascha. It is the
first movement of salvation.
Our Lenten journey begins with a
recognition of our own sinfulness, just as Zacchaeus recognized his. He
promised to make restitution by giving half of his wealth to the poor, and by
paying to those he had falsely accused four times as much as they had lost. In
this, he went beyond the requirements of the Law (Ex. 22:312).
The example of Zacchaeus teaches
us that we should turn away from our sins, and atone for them. The real proof
of our sorrow and repentance is not just a verbal apology, but when we correct
ourselves and try to make amends for the consequences of our evil actions. We
are also assured of God's mercy and compassion by Christ's words to Zacchaeus,
"Today salvation is come to this house" (Luke 19:9). Zacchaeus was
short, so he climbed a tree in order to see the Lord. All of us have sinned and
come short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). We are also short in our spiritual
stature, therefore we must climb the ladder of the virtues. In other words, we
must prepare for spiritual effort and growth.
TODAY, SALVATION HAS COME TO THIS
HOUSE" (LUKE 19:9)
Thus it was spoken by the One
Whose word is life and joy and restoration of the righteous. Just as the bleak
forest clothes itself into greenery and flowers from the breath of spring, so
does every man, regardless of how arid and darkened by sin, becomes fresh and
youthful from the nearness of Christ. For the nearness of Christ is as the
nearness of some life-giving and fragrant balsam which restores
health, increases life, give fragrance to the soul, to the thoughts and to the
words of man. In other words, distance from Christ means decay and death and
His nearness means salvation and life.
"Today, salvation has come
to this house" said the Lord upon entering the house of Zacchaeus the
sinner. Christ was the salvation that came and Zacchaeus was the house into
which He entered. Brethren, each one of us is a house in which sin dwells as
long as Christ is distant and to which salvation comes when Christ approaches
it. Nevertheless, will Christ approach my house and your house? That depends on
us. Behold, He did not arbitrarily enter the house of the sinner Zacchaeus,
rather He entered as a most desired guest.
Zacchaeus of little stature climbed into a tree in order to see the Lord Jesus
with his own eyes. Zacchaeus, therefore, sought him; Zacchaeus desired Him. We
must also seek Him in order to find Him and desire Him in order that He would
draw nearer to us and, with our spirit, to climb high in order to encounter His
glance. Then He will visit our house as He visited the house
of Zacchaeus and with Him salvation will come. Draw near to us O Lord, draw
near and bring to us Your eternal salvation.
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