“I’m a bad person.”  It is an expression often heard from people who struggle with sin.  They are unable to accept the mercy from God.  The response to this statement is “you are not bad person because otherwise you would not exist.”  All have some goodness within them because one of the qualities of being is good.  God created all things good.  Sin crept into the world, but it did not annihilate the goodness within each one.  Some people have problems accepting this, but yes even those people who say they are bad have some good in them.  This can be controversial but at the same time comforting for those who  struggle with their self-worth.  You are not a bad person. Little by little you can change because God loves you and wants your              salvation.  You can change for God just like Zacchaeus.  He had several obstacles to overcome but if he could do it so you can.  The Gospel begins by saying a man named Zacchaeus, already one difficulty. Men are usually harder to change for God, sometimes because of their false sense of  masculinity.  Zacchaeus was tax collector, another obstacle.  The tax collectors were considered traitors to their own people.  In modern times they are not as well liked but at least they are not considered traitors. In ancient times they collected taxes for a foreign empire.  They were despised by their Jewish brothers and not really trusted by the Romans since they were willing to betray their people for money.  Zacchaeus was not only a tax collector, but the chief tax collector.  He was the main one, the boss. The one who organized the other “traitors” to collect taxes, so he was then the chief traitor.  The most rotten one of all the tax   collectors. 
    Another obstacle, he was wealthy.  Of course, we know why! He extorted and stole. He himself accepts this indirectly by offering to return five times more if he ever extorted.  It is noticeable he says “if” as if not accepting full responsibility in front of others.  That “if” is good enough for  Jesus. Zacchaeus was wealthy by whatever means but being rich is also a difficulty for change as we see in the Gospel of Luke since the heart may be placed on earthly possessions. Another obstacle he was short in stature.  His height becomes a problem because he could not see over other people. Zacchaeus had to overcome all these obstacles. He may have thought I am really bad.  But guess what? It doesn’t matter how bad you think you are, and how many obstacles you have but God wants to bring salvation to your life out of an  abundance of His love.  Next time you think you are bad and start naming all the bad in you, remembering God sees also the good in you and wants to bring salvation to your home (your life) because you too are a descendant of Abraham and worthy of His love.