The Pursuit - 12 Weeksنموونە

Zacchaeus was a social outcast, a tax collector who had sold his reputation for wealth. Yet curiosity drove him up a sycamore tree just to see Jesus. When Jesus spots him and says, “Come down; I must stay at your house today,” everything shifts. Before Zacchaeus even confesses or repents, Jesus extends friendship. The crowd grumbles—how could a rabbi eat with a sinner?—but Jesus is unmoved. By the end of dinner, Zacchaeus has repaid his debts fourfold and given half his possessions to the poor.

This is engagement at its best: intentional, personal, and full of grace. Jesus didn’t condone Zacchaeus’s greed, but He built a bridge strong enough to bear the weight of truth. In our own relationships, hospitality often opens doors that arguments never could.

Reflection:

Who in your life might be waiting in a “tree,” curious but distant? What simple act of friendship could invite them closer to Jesus?