Vatican City, Nov 3, 2013 / 10:07 am
In his Angelus message to the crowds in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis praised the 'ridiculous' actions of Zaccheus, the short tax collector who climbed a tree in order to be able to see Jesus in the crowds.
"This external gesture, a little ridiculous, nevertheless expresses the interior attitude of a man who seeks to bring himself above the crowd in order to have contact with Jesus," Pope Francis said Nov. 3.
Despite the oddity of Zaccheus' action, it serves as a model for sinners who may feel far away from Jesus, he explained.
"But let's look at Zaccheus today in the tree: he is ridiculous, but it is a gesture of salvation," the Pope said. "And I say to you: if you have a burden on your conscience, if you have shame about many things that you have done, stop yourself a little, don't be afraid, think of the One who awaits you, because he never stopped remembering you, thinking of you."