Sometimes you just have to climb a tree.  Zacchaeus in Luke’s gospel (19:1-10) was too short to see Jesus in the large crowds so he climbed a tree.  I cant help but see Danny DeVito in the role of Zacchaeus.  Short, grumpy and shunned by his fellow Jews for being the chief tax collector, the crowd would have elbowed Zacchaeus in fine robes and expensive shoes climbing a sycamore tree, getting bumps and scrapes along the way.  But his desire to see Jesus was intense and nothing was going to stop him.

When we are overwhelmed by what disrupts our day and the people who give us a hard time, we need to find a place where we can get a better look at Jesus.  It may be difficult to break away but, like Zacchaeus, we need to separate ourselves and find a quiet place above the maddening crowd, a place where we can submerge ourselves in God’s grace.

Zacchaeus’ heart was open to receiving Jesus.  Jesus called to him by name.  They had never met but he called, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house  What must have been going through Zacchaeus’ mind?  “How does he know me?  Does he know how much I wanted to see him?  But in an instant he had to react and come down.

You know Jesus touched Zacchaeus’ heart as he repented and promised reparation for any wrongdoing.  Not judging him, Jesus told him he was going to stay at his house.  Of all the “faithful” Jews, Jesus picked Zacchaeus.

When we are in our quiet place–up our tree–we get a better look at Jesus.  He will see us, call us by name, and let us know that he is coming home with us.