Hidden Hunger

By Ptr. Gerbert Reyes (PE)

📖Luke 19:3–4

“He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.”

Zacchaeus was not the kind of person you’d expect to be interested in Jesus. As a chief tax collector, he was wealthy, powerful, and widely disliked. Yet something stirred in him—a longing that drove him to climb a tree just to catch a glimpse of Jesus. His actions were undignified, even desperate, but they revealed a heart that was seeking something more.

This moment reminds us that spiritual hunger can show up in unexpected ways and in unexpected people. We often assume that those who don’t fit the “church mold” aren’t interested in God. But Zacchaeus challenges that assumption. His story teaches us to look beyond appearances and recognize that anyone—no matter their past or reputation—can truly desire Jesus.

Let’s be people who notice the Zacchaeuses around us. Let’s respond with grace, not judgment, when someone reaches out awkwardly or imperfectly. Their desire may be real, and we might be the ones God uses to help them see Jesus more clearly.

🙏🏻Reflection: Who in your life might be seeking Jesus in a way you haven’t noticed before?

💭Prayer: Lord, help me to see beyond appearances. Give me eyes to recognize spiritual hunger in others, even when it’s hidden or messy. Teach me to respond with grace and openness, just as You did with Zacchaeus. Amen.

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