Climb the Tree

In the Gospel this weekend, the sinful tax collector Zaccheaus climbs a tree so that he might be able to see Jesus before Jesus passes by.
              The real drama of the story begins with that internal debate going on in Zaccheaus' mind before he actually begins to climb the tree. He wonders: "I am a pillar of the community. Will people make fun of me for doing something foolish? Will I be embarrassed? However, Zaccheaus overcame his embarrassment and chose to climb that tree anyway because his desire to see Jesus was so strong.
There is a lot of cultural pressure to stay on the ground, not climb a tree, and let Jesus pass by without seeing Him. We might stay on the ground by skipping Mass, not praying our Rosary, or by participating in things we know to be sinful simply because "everybody else is doing it."
The vast majority humanity likes to stay on the ground and be like everybody else. It takes bravery like Zaccheaus had to climb a tree and be different. If you live according to the moral teachings of the Catholic Church and stay faithful to the practice of your faith, you will be very different from your neighbors. Do not be afraid or intimidated by what others think. You have climbed a tree to see Jesus. And if we are willing to be different, Jesus will enter our homes, as he entered the home of Zaccheaus, and he will transform our lives for the better.