When Jesus met Zacchaeus

Zacchaeus was a crook - who ripped off his fellow Jews by overcharging them when they had to pay their taxes. He made his money by loading their bills. And Jesus looked up into the sycamore tree and said, "Zacchaeus, come down because I am coming to your house today. I'm coming to have dinner with you." Jesus could have said, 'Now come on, Zacchaeus, I want to talk to you about what you have been doing. We need a chat. I want to tell you how you have been stealing from these people by overcharging them. You're a crook, a thief - even if the law lets you do what you're doing.' That's what Jesus could have done Jesus could have called a spade a spade - and remonstrated with Zacchaeus on the spot. But not Jesus. Jesus doesn't condemn Zacchaeus. He engages with him. In short, he loves him. That's what we are called to do, to love other people, even when they are messing things up.