Article August 11, 1917 Issue

Zacchæus

MYRTLE STRODE JACKSON

Brief but wonderfully interesting is the incident recorded in the nineteenth chapter of St. Luke, which tells how Zacchæus, "chief among the publicans," wanted to see Jesus as he passed on his way to Jerusalem, but was kept back and hidden in the crowd because he was "little of stature." Refusing to be deterred from his purpose by this, Zacchæus ran on ahead and climbed a sycamore tree, that he might be able to see Jesus—"who he was." As the Master passed by, he looked up into the tree and said to him, "Zacchæus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house." We may imagine that Zacchæus was well-nigh overwhelmed with surprise and joy, and the incident closes with the Master's benediction to him and his whole household,—"forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham."

Now this story of Zacchæus is simply a straightforward human record, and may not contain as much spiritual meaning as the parable of the sower, for instance, which is important for the types of mortal thought presented in the metaphysical explanation of the sowing of the seed of Truth. It might even be straining at the gnats of pedantry to attach definite metaphysical significance to every little detail of it; nevertheless the story opens out a train of thought which is not without comfort, enlightenment, and even inspiration, for are there not many who feel themselves to be "little of stature" in more ways than one?

Many singularly sweet natures settle down in the back ways of life's city with the profound conviction that they have little of human endowments,—but few talents, few accomplishments, and no gifts worth mentioning. They are more or less content to drag through dull, uneventful days of work and drudgery, and remain in a dwarfed and stunted condition, shrinking from all intimations of development and progress with a frightened cry of "Oh, but I couldn't do that! I shouldn't know how to!" Others may feel they possess greater capacities, but that they are limited and restricted by their environment. The crowd of mortal thought, education, custom, and obligation presses them down and forces them into the narrow ruts and grooves of convention and conservatism.

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