Readings:
Apocalypse 3:1-6,14-22
Luke 19:1-10
Reflection:
“Look, I am standing at the door, knocking. If one of you hears me calling and opens the door, I will come in to share his meal, side by side with him.” Rev 3:20.
This invitation comes from the letter written to the Christian community of Laodicea, one of the seven churches of Asia Minor (modern Turkey) that were the original audience of the book of Revelation. This community was reproved for being lukewarm in their faith, but very much encouraged by the image of Jesus who has not given up on them and is knocking on their door looking to dine with them. Jesus’ hospitality is one of the important themes of Luke’s Gospel. When Jesus dines with people hearts are changed and perceptions of oneself and others, particularly the vulnerable and sinners are challenged. Tax collectors and sinners have a special place in Jesus’ heart and they are not to be excluded.
In Luke 5:27 the tax collector Levi is called to discipleship and responds by hosting a huge banquet where the scribes and Pharisees were not at all pleased with the presence of tax collectors and sinners. Soon after, Jesus is accused of being a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. This is confirmed in the most graphic way by the woman who washes his feet with her tears in Luke 7:37 in the house of Simon the Pharisee. She is judged to have responded with great love because her sins were forgiven. The beautiful parables of the Lost Sheep, Lost Coin and the Lost Son in Luke 15 are Jesus’ response to the grumbling of the Pharisees and scribes when he eats with tax collectors and sinners. In Luke 18 it is the tax collector who recognises that he is a sinner and in need of God’s mercy who goes away in right relationship with God rather than the Pharisee. By the time we come to Luke 19, we are not at all shocked by Jesus’ invitation to eat in Zacchaeus’ home. Jesus has come knocking, and Zacchaeus has opened the door to his heart and home.
Fr. Chris Monaghan CP, lectures in the New Testament and is President of Yarra Theological Union. He is a member of the Passionist community of Holy Cross in Templestowe.