W ho was Zacchaeus? He was a leader of the publicans-”the chief among publicans.” The customary comparison between the humble publican and the proud Pharisee often blocks the true meaning of these two images in our minds. St John (Maximovich) of Shanghai and San Francisco has left us an exceptionally helpful sermon on the Gospel reading for this Sunday of Zacchaeus. Having his example before us, let us now prepare ourselves for the approaching struggles of the Great Lent as we set out on our journey to behold Christ’s Life-giving Resurrection. The Holy Fathers, knowing the weakness of human nature in our attempts to change from sinful, self-centered life to one of humility and repentance, placed this Gospel lesson before us today to instill in us a desire to repent just as Zacchaeus possessed a desire to behold Christ. His memory is also celebrated on April 20. Knowing that we are basically slow to exhibit a desire for repentance, the Holy Fathers, by Zacchaeus’ example, teach us in these preliminary weeks the need to recognize our sins and our need to turn away from them….Īfter the Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension of the Lord, it is said that Zacchaeus was a disciple of the divine Apostle Peter, who afterwards ordained him Bishop of Caesarea.
The Holy Fathers placed today’s commemoration here to prepare us, little by little, for dawning season of Great Lent. On this day, the Sunday before the beginning of the Lenten Triodion, we commemorate the repentance of the tax-collector, the Holy Apostle Zacchaeus, who desired to behold Christ. Synaxarion of the Lenten Triodion and Pentecostarion
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