Last week, Jesus taught us the parable of the Pharisee and the publican. As a result of how they prayed, the latter left the Temple justified, the former not. In last week’s essay, I suggested that ...

This is French artist James Tissot’s depiction of Zacchaeus in a sycamore-fig tree awaiting Jesus’ arrival. Tissot lived from 1836-1902. (Courtesy Photo) Zacchaeus was a very short man who became ...

Luke includes in his Gospel an account found nowhere else in the Gospel tradition, a story which fits well with many of the Lucan themes regarding the value and danger of wealth and possessions – not ...

Sunday, Oct. 30, is the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). Mass Readings: Wisdom 11:22-12:1; Psalm 145:1-2, 8-13, 14; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2; Luke 19:1-10 There are plenty of lessons you can ...

No matter how it started, Zacchaeus got the word that Jesus was coming through and he made ready on his own terms. Zacchaeus planned to see without being seen. Something must have been going on inside ...

What was he thinking? A short, petty but powerful man shinnying up a tree to spy as Jesus and friends passed through Jericho. There must have been advance publicity; somebody spread the news that ...

Without Caravaggio one might not fully understand Bernard Strozzi’s painting of Zacchaeus. We know Zacchaeus’ story. He was a chief tax collector. In his Gospel, Luke narrates that, when Jesus was ...