Jericho - geographically the lowest city in the world. The city where Zacchaeus lives. Zacchaeus' great desire was to see Jesus, and because he was small he had to climb a sycamore tree to do so.
Jesus enters Jericho, to this lowest point, not only in a geographical sense. Jesus descends to the lowest places also in a spiritual sense. In the same city, Jesus heals a blind man, and then brings Zacchaeus out of the darkness and heals his heart that is closed to people.
Today in the world there are many cities full of people whose hearts are sick like that of Zacchaeus. There are also many of them in our family homes and communities. There is something of Zacchaeus in each of us. We suffer rejection for our own wrongdoing. Every day we look forward to someone who will look at us with love, organize our confused life and give it a new meaning. Like Zacchaeus, we need salvation from darkness and deliverance from sins that only Jesus can give. Only He can turn our wounds into pearls, bring death to life, fill our hearts with hope and kindle love where it is lacking.