The children loved singing The Zacchaeus Song for First Communion.Pope John 23 loved the story too,and told it to remind us ,that we are always forgiven,..and God makes the first move.Jesus looks up at Zaccheus and invites to dinner,before ,there is any reform.It is great consolation ,that God takes us as we are ...where we are at .I think that Jesus ,even compliments Zaccheus.He was a chief taxcollector.That was no mean achievement.He was a man on the mark for business.He ran, to get a vantage view on the tree,to ‘suss out Jesus’.Jesus compliments him,saying ‘Come down quickly ....and he came down quickly.We are accepted before,during and after by God.Zacchaeus taxmans heart, is warmed into giving and generosity.When we too, with all our weaknesses and warts ,are thought well of,our hearts are touched,and moved..So we receive Holy Communion ,because of our need for God’s help ,that will touch our hearts,and not because of our worthiness or virtue.Take and Eat.

Liam Hickey, St.Ciarans, Hartstown, Dublin 15.