Zacchaeus

Jesus is passing through Jericho on his way up to Jerusalem. A rich man, Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector, is trying to see who Jesus is, but he is short and the crowd blocks his view. He runs ahead and climbs a sycamore tree. When Jesus reaches that spot, he looks up and calls him by name: “Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.” Zacchaeus hurries down and welcomes him joyfully, while everyone grumbles, “He is gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.” Changed, Zacchaeus stands before the Lord: he gives half of his goods to the poor and will restore fourfold to anyone he has cheated. Jesus declares, “This day is salvation come to this house,” for “the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”