When salvation came to Zacchaeus and his house, Zacchaeus was moved to say: "I give half my belongings, Lord, to the poor" (Lk 19:8). This expression of salvation has been common throughout Church history. Jesus loved and challenged a man by saying to him: "There is one thing more you must do. Go and sell what you have and give to the poor; you will then have treasure in heaven. After that, come and follow Me" (Mk 10:21). Peter said to Jesus: "We have put aside everything to follow you!" (Mk 10:28) In the early Church, "all who owned property or houses sold them and donated the proceeds" (Acts 4:34) to the extent that Ananias and Sapphira felt compelled to lie about giving the Church all the proceeds from property which they sold (Acts 5:1ff). When we give our lives to Christ, all is new (2 Cor 5:17), and "money is no object."

Christianity is the most radical decision possible for a human being. To follow the crucified Savior is to lose our lives (Lk 9:24) and be "delivered from the futile way of life" handed on to us by our materialistic culture (1 Pt 1:18). Let us be converted as Zacchaeus was converted. Let us be crucified with Christ (Gal 2:19). Let us love as Jesus loves.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert A. Stricker, May 8, 2001

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, May 18, 2001