Bread for Community: Luke 19:1–10 (Dinner with Zacchaeus)
Zacchaeus was an outsider. His community rejected him because he was a tax collector. Tax collectors in Roman times were considered to be disloyal to their Jewish community, as they collected vast resources and transmitted them to the powerful empire. Some scholars believe Zacchaeus was a changed man even before he met Jesus. He already performed his work with integrity and fairness. These scholars think that when Zacchaeus met Jesus, his way of life was transformed. With either interpretation, dinner with Jesus restored Zacchaeus to his community. This story shows us that when we eat meals together, we can break down barriers between us and transform our lives.