In this 20 minute meditation we will travel in our imaginations to first century Jericho, home to families with long-established wealth, status and power. Zaccheus, also very wealthy but wholly living apart from any devout practices also makes his home in this affluent town.

You may wish to re-read the story before you pray:

Luke 19 (NRSV) Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. 2 A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. 7 All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” 8 Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” 9 Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”

May the story become yours as you pray.

Please note, a Zacchaeus meditation by pray-as-you-go has heavily influenced the shape and form of todays meditation. Thank you to pray-as-you-go for their amazing leadership in all things audio and Ignatian prayer.

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God’s love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

All music by Pete Hatch. petehatch.com.