1B-BC                                                                                                                                  08-19-18

 

            Like Zacchaeus, I am just also a human being who always make mistakes. I can relate to him because the fire that was once burning in our hearts is gradually fading and because of that, we started to constantly commit sins. But because Jesus is so forgiving, regardless of who I was and what I did in the past, like what He did to Zacchaeus, He forgave me and entered my heart as if I deserve to be forgiven. He still looked up to me and accepts me as His child.  

        I feel regretful on what I've done and I don't want to be in that situation again. I know that all of us are not perfect. I make mistakes therefore others make mistakes also. With this, I go to the Church and pray to seek for Christ. Though I am a sinner, Christ is still always there for me. He notices me even if I am in darkness. Though I cannot see His physical presence, I was able to see Him in my heart. He enlightens my path and made me realized that I should forgive.  Forgiveness healed my heart and brings happiness to myself and to everyone that surrounds me. As I bring back myself, I was able to build again a strong foundation with other people wherein Christ is at the center of our lives.

 

Another image I can associate to Jesus in the movie was the time when Zacchaeus instigated to somehow be a “new or better” person as he gives away all his riches. By this, Jesus portrays myself. It may sound confusing, but imagine I am Zacchaeus (sinful person) and my inner “me” is Jesus. For me, the only person that can somehow change me to be a better person is myself. The only person that can somehow contemplate on the sins that I have made is me. I know that Jesus is within me and JESUS IS ME. I just need to have a conversation with myself and my “inner self” in order for me to be a better person. That is how I accentuate Jesus to myself. With him I can change. With him I can be better. With him I can be him. 

Since we are talking about the changes in our lives, let me also tell mine.

 

I was raised to treat everyone with kindness. Not until I have gone through the dark tunnel of my life. I have been friends with this girl for several years, but because of having something that she has always wanted but could not have, she hated me and started spreading false rumors about me. It was very depressing. Because of that incident, I have changed. Only worse. It has affected my social life and relationships with other people. Whenever I make new friends, I look at them in a different way fearing to be taken advantage of. I was unhappy anymore. Similar to Zaccheaus, I have been consumed with darkness and started looking for a light in my tunnel.

 

During a vacation, I was looking at a glorious sunset. It was that time when I realized that I was Enlightened to know the One. The true God is not the sun, but the maker of it. I prayed for enlightenment to Christ and started to attend regular Sunday masses. It was truly a life-changing moment for me. Jesus, acting as the light, saved me from being consumed with darkness. He got me out of the tunnel just in time.  It was only recently when regained my strength to trust my friends again. He writes for each of us may go many paths, but no matter where we are in the journey, we must believe that He has plans. I started to live a new chapter in my life. It is forgiveness that will give us freedom and peace of mind.

 

U-turn! I’m going back to the topic on what image for me Jesus portrays in the movie. For me, the first encounter of Jesus and Zacchaeus shows how fair and equality we should possess in this world. The way Jesus interacted with Zacchaeus despite being already in a pack of people shows how fair Jesus is. He can chose anybody who is much more deserving on the land where He stands yet He called Zacchaeus. This fairness of Jesus reminds of every innocent babies I saw. Babies are adorable and cute, yes, but if you would notice, innocent babies can interact with different people regardless of their imperfections. Their innocence and short-term lack of knowledge to some things in this world blocks the insults and unequal treatment to others. Resulting them to be exactly like Jesus, no barriers of anything for communication and opportunities in life. That’s why I believe innocent babies or kids are one of the purest in this world. 

With the story of Zacchaeus, I can relate myself to him because I myself also a sinner like him. At the old time, people see tax collectors as a bad person because they collect taxes and spend it for their own good which make them a sinner. I’m also a sinner, I do bad stuff for my own good. But with what zacchaeus did wherein he gave up his wealth, I realized that it is not too late for me to change. I know that Lord Jesus forgives even if sometimes we commit the same mistakes. Zacchaeus had a change of heart and I should also change because it is for my own benefit and will make me a better person like zacchaeus. 

“Just behind the darkest clouds, you will find the sun still shining" ...🌞

It is a line of a song that I always remember and from the movie I can say that Jesus became the light for those who are unseen like Zacchaeus.  This made me realize that there are times that we may be in darkness but there is always light, we just need to believe in ourselves and especially to God.