Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/431

 III. The charity  and  meekness  of  Jesus  Christ prompted Him  to  grant  Zacheus  more  than  he  wished, for He  not  only  permitted  Himself  to  be  seen  by  him but also  invited  him  to  His  conversation  and  familiarity: " Zacheus,"  He  said,  "  make  haste  and  come  down,  for  to-day  I  must  abide  in  thy  house." He tells  him  to "make  haste,"  because  the  grace  of  the  Holy  Ghost knows no  slow  delays. He mentions  "to-day,"  because we ought  to  take  advantage  of  the  present  time;  for  tomorrow may  not  be  our  own. "If to-day  you  should hear  His  voice,  harden  not  your  hearts." (Ps. xciv.  8.)

I. Zacheus  immediately  obeyed  Christ's  call,  "and made  haste  and  came  down,  and  received  Him  with  joy." (Luke xix.  6.)  Such  ought  to  be  your  obedience;  when Christ calls  you  by  His  secret  inspiration,  you  should open the  door  of  your  heart  as  soon  as  you  hear  Him knock, lest,  if  you  make  any  delay,  He  turn  aside  from you, as  did  the  spouse  in  the  Canticles,  and  pass  away. Observe how  those  who  stood  by  murmured,  saying,  i "  that  He  was  gone  to  be  a  guest  with  a  man  that  is  a sinner." (Luke xix.  7.)  Learn  hence,  that  the  most  holy actions are  found  fault  with  by  the  malicious. They did not understand  the  zeal  of  our  Lord,  "Who  came  to  seek and  to  save  that  which  was  lost."

II. Zacheus was  soon  converted  by  his  conversation with Christ,  and  immediately  protested,  "Behold  Lord, the  half  of  my  goods  I  give  to  the  poor." Here the  rich man despoils  himself  of  his  riches,  partly  for  the  benefit