Is there anything that you MUST do today?

We live in a world where there are a lot of expectations, a lot of things that we SHOULD do. Whether those pressures come from family or work or church or politics or school, there are a lot of things that we ‘should’ be doing. I should be watching my diet a bit more. I should be exercising on a more regular basis. I should be more diligent with my time management. I should be doing my homework for my Spanish class. I should vote in Tuesday’s election. You get the picture. But is there anything that you MUST do? Is there anything that takes on that kind of imperative in your life? I have a classmate who is diabetic. He MUST take his insulin daily. We all know people who are struggling with addiction. They MUST not take that first drink. Is there anything you MUST do today?

In the midst of Jesus’ journey toward Jerusalem, where he resolutely set his face to go, Jesus makes a detour. He was intending to pass right through Jericho. He should be on his way with all speed to his final destination, the holy City. He should not stop in this pagan/Samaritan town, for as a devout Jew, he would be less than welcome there. He should be spending time with his disciples, preparing them for his final days on earth. So I was struck in praying into the gospel when I heard that line from the mouth of Jesus. “Zacchaeus, come down, for I MUST stay at your house today.” Jesus sees this man up in the tree and suddenly everything stops. And Jesus knows the divine MUST has made a claim on his life.

I always wondered why? Why did Jesus know he must stop? The easiest guess is that when he glanced up that tree, what he saw must have been pretty incongruous. Zacchaeus, a wealthy man, would not own simple clothes. You don’t climb trees in a tuxedo or a wedding dress. Seeing someone up a tree in the equivalent of a suit coat must have been enough. Perhaps it was that incongruity that caught him. Perhaps the dress got Jesus’ attention enough to see the hunger in Zacchaeus’ eyes. Or maybe the simple fact that he was up in the tree spoke of a hunger and need to Jesus. But Jesus knew. There was something that MUST be done, and so he stopped.

“Zacchaeus, I must dine in your house today.” Implied in that statement is an offer. Jesus is telling Zacchaeus that he has an offer for him, a gift for him, life for him. “I must dine in your house” says “You must welcome me,” for what I give is more than hospitality. And Zacchaeus, to his credit, seizes the moment. He goes beyond the demands of the rabbinic law that would ask for 20% of his goods and restitution plus 20% for illegal gains. Zacchaeus recognizes the moment of grace and responds with a hospitality that yields salvation.

Among many ways to pray into the scripture this week, let me offer two. First, instead of looking at your weekly calendar to choose what you should be doing, ask instead, what MUST I do this week? What task, what hospitality, what service, what prayer is imperative for you to do this week? And if it is not as clear as seeing a man in tuxedo up in a tree, keep asking in prayer till it becomes clear.

Secondly, at this Mass, in a few moments, you will hear the invitation: “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are we who are called to his supper.” As you hear that, let it connect you to today’s Gospel. Hear in that invitation the voice of Jesus saying to you: “John, Helen, Paul, etc – “I must dine at your house today.” And, like Zacchaeus, open your heart to such a guest.

When it is all said and done, there are lots of things that we should do, but only the things we MUST do matter. Lord, give us the wisdom this week to know the difference.