BY ANN HENDERS
All week people have been talking about the visit, as if nothing else was happening here. Of course, they weren’t actually talking to me about it but as I went about my work I heard them. What day would he come? What time would he come? How many of his friends and supporters would come with him? I almost joined in myself but I didn’t. I can’t waste my time on chit chat and anyway I have to keep a professional distance. I have a very important job. If anyone thought I was interested in something like that they may use it to press for a favour. ‘A little more time please’, ‘not so much interest please’. No! I keep my own counsel. I say nothing but hear all and sometimes, I hear secrets and secrets are powerful currency. I can work them to my advantage. I have a good home, a full larder. Soon I will be asking Thaddeus for his daughter in marriage. An offer to good for him to refuse.
So, today is the day of the visit. Some of his supporters arrived last night to prepare the way, sort out a venue, spread the word. From early this morning people were at the city gate to greet him and line the street to the main square. It was mayhem. I walked the length of the route searching for a gap but no one gave way to me. All I could see was the back of people’s heads and shoulders. The children slipped through and under the crowd, I had to resort to jumping up but that was too undignified.
In the square is a big sycamore tree. A lot of older people and women were taking advantage of the shade, they were a bit easier to push through so I could climb the lower branches of the tree. There I waited. In the distance I heard the first roar of the crowd as they saw him approach, the sound rolled and rose like thunder through the narrow street then exploded into the square. I saw him quite clearly, this famous leader of men. What was all the fuss about? He was just a man, dark, average height, dusty feet and clothes but the crowd went wild. As he moved through the square he stopped and looked into the tree. Smiled and waved to me as if he expected me to be there.
‘Zacheus! My friend! Hurry up and get down from that tree, I will be dining at your house tonight’.
The crowd was silent, then someone shouted
‘But he’s a tax collector and he’s been cheating us for years’
The Leader looked at me and smiled and I heard my own voice say
‘Don’t worry, I will give you back four fold all the money I have taken’
The crowd cheered, the leader continued on his way and I remain, up this tree, dumbfounded by the words that have just left my mouth and wondering what I have at home to feed my guest this evening.
Last Updated on August 10, 2022