Support for Christianity
[9] And so I say: The whole world is full of Zacchaeuses, and you are no less! Then do what he did, and I will then say to you, and do what I said and did to Zacchaeus. The way I use to draw Mine closer is known to you; you are, just like Zacchaeus, the sinful publicans of the world. [10] What did Zacchaeus do to see Me on the way? - He was small of person; he ran ahead and climbed in a mulberry, that is, as: The sinful man recognized his worthlessness before Me, he was thus full of humility and equaled or resembled the publican in the temple, who also dared not raise up his head. [11] But humility is the main nourishment of love. The love becomes more powerful and stronger towards that before which she feels her great unworthiness! And the more unworthy she feels, the greater her pull toward him, because her respect grows as she sinks in her own values. Such love then only thinks of the one whom she most respects as her highest good. [12] In this preoccupation with the object, which is most honorable for such love, lies an ever-brighter light, in which man thinks and thinks and seeks and seeks to bring his supreme object closer to his contemplation! And this thinking and thinking and searching and searching resembles the running upfront of Zacchaeus. [13] He is on the right track; but he also knows that the Lord is the most inward of all things, and thus is in a great crowd, and yet he will not be able to be spied on in right way. But the desire to see the Lord is more powerful than this objection, and more powerful than this obstacle to obstruction, and calls on all the powers in man to rise to such a point of view, from which one could nevertheless could behold the Lord, over and in the midst of the crowd.
[14] A tree is chosen and climbed: a mulberry tree, like the tree of knowledge, in whose leaves the fine, shiny fabric is concealed to the royal apparel. So through higher knowledge and through the light of faith, man wants to behold the Lord; therefore he rushes ahead and climbs the symbolic tree of knowledge, which, although having a sweet fruit, is nevertheless not enough for anyone to saturate. It seems to saturate him, but after such apparent saturation it is usually followed by a greater hunger than any one had before. [15] So it is also with the higher knowledge of the Way by means of intellectual research. Although these findings seem to surprisingly satisfy the spirit in the beginning; but in a short time, his desiring stomach speaks: "The few sweet dreams have only made me sleepy, but not saturated; I feel short of being full, but I am empty despite the knowledge!" [16] Behold, the mulberry tree which Zacchaeus, of course, ascended in the very best of intentions, presents a clear picture - and it would be good for all such worldly publicans and sinners, if they would climb the tree of knowledge of the Lord by the Way, with the same intentions than Zacchaeus, they would achieve the same what Zacchaeus achieved. [17] But, unfortunately, the tree of knowledge is very seldom ascended in the manner of Zacchaeus, and many Zacchaeuses, even with somewhat better intentions, climb the tree of knowledge, but usually one who does not stand by the way of the Lord. [18] So far, everything would be clear; but now the question is: is it enough for eternal life, if one would do like Zaccheus with such best intentions? [19] This question is answered by the passage of the Gospel, where the Lord speaks to Zacchaeus, who is peering from the tree: descend; for I must still dine in your house today! [20] That means, "Zacchaeus! Get rid of your high speculation about Me, and descend into the chamber of your love for Me; There is food for Me in this house, and I will go in and eat in this house of yours." [21] And more clearly, that means as much as: "Zacchaeus! Descend into your first humility and love; therefore, I will go in with you and refresh Myself with such fruit of your heart." [22] See, that is the practical theoretic of this text, and the morality is very short: "Look to your brother Zacchaeus, and follow his example, so shall you happen with you what has happened with Zacchaeus!" (Explanation of Scriptures, chap. 31)
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