Imagine Zacchaeus’ surprise when Jesus looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” What wonderful words for Zacchaeus to hear! How wonderful when Jesus says them to us! Yet at every Eucharist he makes his invitation at communion. But at many other times too he wishes to enter into our lives. The Book of Revelation has Jesus in a beautiful image: “I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into his house and eat with him and he will eat with me” (Rev 3:20). Are our doors always open and ready to offer him hospitality? Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and was much hated by all the people. Why would Jesus single him out for the honour of staying at his home? Zacchaeus needed God’s merciful love and forgiveness. In his encounter with Jesus he found more than he imagined possible. He shows the depth of his repentance by deciding to give half of his goods to the poor and to use the other half for making restitution for fraud. Zacchaeus’ testimony included more than words. His change of heart resulted in a change of life, a change that the whole community could experience as genuine. Jesus always sees beyond the external to the potential inside. He praises the repentant tax collector in last week’s Gospel over against the proud and arrogant Pharisee. Today he praises a tax collector whom he knows to be a good and generous person. He sees a unique individual and not just a stereotype. How often are blinded by the stereotype of a person’s profession, or race, or religion.