5 September 2026

In the tale of the little taxman, who is reaching out to whom? Clearly Zacchaeus is reaching out to Jesus in his loneliness and isolation. Why else would a chief tax-collector endure the indignity of climbing up a sycamore tree?

But Jesus is also reaching out to Zacchaeus. Doesn’t he invite himself to stay at the little man’s house? And why not? ‘The Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ he says to a would-be follower. And he defines his ministry of hospitality as seeking out and saving the lost.

In this ministry, something remarkable happens. A change is effected in Zacchaeus. More than that, everyone around him discovers the little man’s hidden gift. He has a generous heart! He spontaneously decides to give half of his possessions to the poor and to pay back four times as much to those whom he has defrauded.

This was going far beyond the letter of the law – and it was a generous continuation of Christ’s ministry of hospitality. Zacchaeus was making right his wrong and making space for those who were poor.

The wonderful thing about this tale is the wisdom and grace which we see in Jesus. He had the insight to see the gift of generosity which was hidden in the little man’s lonely heart – and he had the grace to draw it out in the most appropriate way – an unexpected invitation to tea!