Face to Face With Jesus - a Lenten MeditationSample

Zaccheus was considered a “sinner” by his people because he was a tax collector, one who collected taxes from his own to give to the Romans. For all intents and purposes, he was a traitor. Yet, Jesus invited Himself to his home and spent time with him. During the course of that day, Zaccheus with fresh conviction makes a public declaration of a new lifestyle. One of personal integrity and public generosity. Why the sudden attack of conscience? Why the added burden of making public claims that people could hold you to? It may be safe to say that Jesus making time for Zaccheus, sitting with him and his friends and just loving them as they are changed everything. These were a despised lot. No one wanted to be with them other than their kind. Yet a rabbi, with eyes that saw the invisible people of society, changed everything when he invited himself into their circle.

Questions to ask yourself

Do I take the time to see the unseen people of my city, the ones who are despised, rejected and afflicted?

Do I invite them into my life or do I enter theirs just so that I can be a channel of Christ’s love to them?