The Gospel of Luke
Jesus in Jericho: Lk 18,35-19,10
The Blind Beggar: Lk 18,35-43
It is notable that the two Jericho encounters are the last in the ministry of Jesus. That gives them a special significance as a summary of Luke's presentation. Thus it is not surprising that the first story is about a poor man and the second about one who is rich.
Considering why Mark and Luke have given names to the two characters Bartimaeus and Zacchaeus, in each Gospel they are the last encounter with Jesus before he arrives in Jerusalem. The characters may be named because of this special position in the story of the Gospel.
The meeting of Bartimaeus with Jesus just outside Jericho is one of the great encounters of that Gospel (Mk 10,46-52). Apart from not naming him, Luke's main change from Mark is omitting the crowd's encouragement of the beggar (Mk 10,49-50). Luke has made the beggar more active as an enquirer (18,36) and he is told by the crowd that Jesus is passing. Jesus commands that the beggar be brought to him (18,40). Finally and importantly Luke changes the ending. Whereas in Mark, Bartimaeus follows Jesus on the way (by implication, the Christian way), Luke concludes with praise of God by all the people (10,43).
In Jesus's special ministry to the poor, the blind were mentioned in his sermon at Nazareth (4,18) and in what Jesus said to the disciples of John the Baptist (7,22). They are also clearly mentioned among those invited to the banquet in chapter 14.
The cry for God's mercy is shown by the (poor) lepers in 17,13 and by the (rich) tax collector in the Temple (18,13).
It seems possible that "told" in verse 37 could be translated "announce" or "proclaim". That would give a missionary dimension to this incident.
In verses 39-40, the beggar receives opposition from the crowd until Jesus commands he be brought to him.
"Your faith has saved you" in verse 42 indicates how faith is the essential condition for salvation or to be open to salvation.
Glory and praise at the end are the only response to the marvellous deeds of God.
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Zacchaus the Tax collector: 19,1-10
It is the word "today" which stands out, in verses 5 and 9. "Today" is the announcement of the angel in 2,11 and the proclamation of Jesus as he begins his ministry (4,21). God's salvation for us is today, not a past event or in the distant future but today. "Today" therefore is prayed by the Church as it begins each day with Psalm 95.
The Zacchaeus story as it comes at the end of the journey to Jerusalem brings together themes which have been prominent in the Gospel. Zacchaeus is a tax collector one of those whom we have met before as open to God (5,27, 18,13). He is also rich, very rich (18,23).
Jesus in verse 5 then invites himself to Zacchaeus' house, echoing his instructions to his missionaries (10,7). "I must" ("it is necessary" in Greek) is an important word in Luke's Gospel, bringing out Jesus' obedience to God's will as the divine plan of salvation unfolds (see verses 9).
"Joy" is also a prominent theme in the Gospel. 17,7.10 and the joy at repentance are appropriate for Zacchaeus as is the joyful announcement of a saviour in 2,10-11.
In verse 9, Zacchaeus' promise of restitution goes well beyond any legal requirement in the Old Testament.
Jesus therefore makes the announcement of salvation in verse 9. Zacchaeus is a son of Abraham but he has received the message in the way that the rich man of chapter 16 did not.
Finally, Luke adds a comment echoing God's promise to shepherd his people and to seek out the lost in Ezek 34,16.
This saying in verse 10 is effectively the last message of the entire journey to Jerusalem. As we will see, the parable that follows opens up the story of the passion. The Zacchaeus story is so typically Luke that it is a fitting last encounter in the ministry of Jesus. Then with this saying at the end of a long journey, Luke is able to come back to his fundamental theme, that Jesus is here to seek and save the lost.
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The Sunday Gospel
The reading from the Wisdom of Solomon is a reflection on God's power (verse 21) and his mercy (verse 23). A fine passage in itself but not I think really a clear fit to the story of Zacchaeus.
We have seen the importance of 19,9 "Today salvation has come to this house". If we read "church" for "house" then we can see how the Church takes this passage as referring to herself, together with that important word "today"
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