Inviting Jesus in our Homes - Fr. Gregory - January 26, 2025

In this period of time following Theophany, we invite Jesus into our homes through house blessings. Similarly, in today’s Gospel reading, a sinful tax collector named Zacchaeus welcomes Jesus into his home and thereby gains salvation for him and his household.In today’s sermon, Fr. Gregory points out several aspects of the story of Zacchaeus and how we can apply them to our own lives.First, we see that Zacchaeus has developed a desire to see Jesus. Fr. Gregory explains that the first thing we must have in the spiritual life is a desire to know and have a relationship with God.Then, Zacchaeus, being small of stature, climbs a tree to be able to see Jesus from above the crowds. Fr. Gregory points out that climbing a tree is a very childish thing for a chief tax collector, a man of great dignity, to do. However, Zacchaeus was so motivated to see Jesus that he humbled himself. Fr. Gregory challenges us to ask ourselves if we’re willing to humble ourselves to become closer to Christ.When Jesus looks up at Zacchaeus, he says, “Make haste and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” The crowds begin to mutter, criticizing Christ for going to the home of a sinner. Fr. Gregory challenges us to ask ourselves if we, too, mutter and complain when God calls people from various backgrounds to have a relationship with him.Zacchaeus welcomes Jesus into his home, and Jesus tells him, “Today salvation has come to this house.” Fr. Gregory points out that salvation is not just about going to heaven after we die, but salvation is about God abiding with us here on earth, today — under the roof of our souls and the roof of our homes.