Moving on to the next character of the film, Zacchaeus. Since he is a tax collector, rich, and small, he accepted that no one will look up to him but he was surprised when Jesus recognized Him. In that moment, from his curiosity of who is Jesus, it turned out to be the start of everything. In Zacchaeus, he sees God as the humblest and honorable person in the village. Due to Jesus’ personality, it changed Zacchaeus perspective and made Him realize that Jesus is kind to everyone. Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus to his house wholeheartedly and even surrendered himself to give his money and give it to the people who need it and made his own consequence if he will not do that. In that scenario, I have seen Zacchaeus’ dignity. He is serious on what he have said and he is not turning his back. He is hungry to achieve the true happiness which is to put it into action. From that scenario, he was saved from continuing his bad deeds or his way of collecting taxes.

The 15 minute video made me reflect in different angles. First, I am like Zacchaeus for I am small and literally cannot see Jesus however due to my strong desire to get to know Him, I am finding a way to do so. Second, just like what Zacchaeus did, I am also willing to surrender myself to Jesus and willing to change for the better. However, there are some things that made me and Zacchaeus different to one another. First, I believe that it is not Jesus who invited Himself to my place but it is me who knocks on His place and heart because He is the Almighty. Second, originally, Zacchaeus interest is money but in my case my personal interest is to search for pure happiness and love through my family and God. Lastly, Zacchaeus was already an adult when He fully accept Jesus while I already knew and accept Him since I was baptized. While watching the movie, what really struck me the most is Zacchaeus effort to see Jesus because I know that when I am in his situation I am also going to do the same thing.  For a person to get curious means his intention is true. It is such an exceptional moment for not anyone will dare to climb the sycamore tree to see a person. The story taught me that whoever you are, Jesus will humbly accept you. He is willing to open His arms and make you feel safe.  No matter what you did, he will understand you. He will welcome you to His kingdom and let you feel his unending love.

There are times that I tend to compare myself to other people thinking that they are luckier than I since I struggle more unlike them. But then the real idea of it is that, it is not important who is more fortunate than I am or you are. The most significant light must be; we are blessed through the power of our faith, we are blessed for Jesus came to seek the lost, last and least, and lastly we are indeed blessed for in this world we are capable to receive eternal salvation. On the other hand, I have seen the image of God not just in the actions of Jesus Christ or in the faith and eagerness of Zacchaeus to receive salvation but personally speaking, the image of God appeared in the presence of the sycamore tree. It was like serves as the tree for Zacchaeus to seek Jesus, to feel not as small as his height made him feel since Jesus tend to look up to him and he also felt being known by the Messiah by calling him through his name though he is a stranger. 

We may have different faces and various experiences but at the end of the day there’s only one goal we have in this life we are enjoying, and that is the Divine Beatitudes which orders us not only for earthly possessions but towards the kingdom of heaven. Thus, living with dignity knowing that we are made alike with God’s image it is also essential to ask the Lord to utilize us to be like Jesus who came to seek for the lost. Truly, a life without cause is a life without effect. 

Why does God chooses the less deserving for His favor? It's because we always think ahead of the Lord. See, none of us deserves any of what we have. We didn't deserve Jesus. We should be the ones who were crucified in the Calvary. We are all called to serve the Lord but not all of us will respond. We are given the eternal life but not all of us are willing to give up everything for the Lord. Zacchaeus gave up everything to follow the Lord's will.  It is stated in Ephesians 2:8-9 that it's not what we did, doing, or will do that can save us. It's not our works but only by the grace of our Lord are we saved from eternal damnation. Zacchaeus sinned. I sinned. You sinned. We all sinned. We are all sinners yet Jesus paid for it all in the Calvary. The sins Zacchaeus did were all nothing when he asked Jesus for forgiveness as if he was given a new life. As the song says, "I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back." Means that once we decided to let Him work in our lives, we are also saying that all that we were in the past will be forgotten. God is a gracious God. He gives salvation and loves unconditionally. In 1 Corinthians 5:17, everyone who accepted Jesus Christ is a new creation. We are all sinners but God doesn't look at what we did, but what we are going to do once we accepted Him. That's what I learned from the story of Zacchaeus.