A touching homily on Luke 19:1–10, that compares Zacchaeus’s conversion to a butterfly’s new birth, showing how a true encounter with Jesus transforms life completely. (18-11-25)
Praise be to Jesus Christ
One morning, a little boy was walking with his father. On a tree branch, he noticed a small cocoon moving slightly in the breeze. Curious, he went closer and saw a butterfly struggling to come out. The boy felt pity and called out, “Papa, the poor butterfly is trying so hard. Shall I help it?” The father smiled softly and said, “No, my son. The butterfly must struggle to come out on its own. That struggle will give it strength. If we help it now, it will never be able to fly.”
The boy did not understand, but he waited. After a long time, the butterfly slowly broke open the cocoon and came out. Its wings looked weak at first, but as it moved them again and again, they became strong. Then, in a moment, the butterfly lifted itself into the air and flew high in the sunlight. The boy looked at it with wonder and said quietly, “Now I understand. The struggle made it strong.”
My dear brothers and sisters, the story of Zacchaeus in today’s Gospel is something like that butterfly. His change did not happen in a single moment. It was a journey, a slow breaking of his hard heart, a painful but beautiful struggle that brought him a new life.
Zacchaeus was a rich man, but his heart was poor. He had everything money could buy, yet something deep inside him was empty. When he heard that Jesus was passing by, something began to stir in him. First, he ran ahead. Then he climbed a tree. Maybe people laughed at him, but he did not care. He was searching for something more. And there, from the tree, he waited and watched.
When Jesus came to that place, He stopped, looked up, and called him by name. “Zacchaeus, come down quickly. I must stay at your house today.” Those words were like a light breaking through the cocoon of his heart. He came down at once, full of joy. He welcomed Jesus into his home.
That meeting changed everything. The man who once loved money began to love people. The man who once took from others began to give. He said, “Half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay them four times over.” And Jesus said, “Today, salvation has come to this house.”
Look at the beauty of that change. Before meeting Jesus, Zacchaeus lived for gold. After meeting Jesus, he lived for God. His life had two clear parts: before and after. Before Christ, he was a slave to wealth and after Christ, he became free.
The same is true for us. Each of us has our own cocoon; it may be pride, anger, selfishness, or fear. We often want God to change us quickly, without struggle. But like the butterfly, it is through the struggle that our wings of faith grow strong. God does not remove every difficulty. He allows us to wrestle with them so that we may be transformed from within.
Saint Teresa of Avila said, “When we are able to see everything in Jesus, then we are able to forget everything.” When Zacchaeus saw Jesus, everything else lost its importance. His heart, once tied to money, found its freedom in love.
The same miracle can happen in our families. When a wife forgives her husband, when parents pray with their children, when we choose kindness over anger, something inside us changes. The old shell begins to break. Slowly, a new heart is born, and that heart can truly fly.
Zacchaeus’s story tells us that a new life is possible for everyone. It may take time. It may need struggle. But once Jesus enters our home and our heart, life will never be the same again.
My friends, do not fear the process. Each act of prayer, each moment of humility, each step towards forgiveness is like the butterfly pushing its wings. One day, the cocoon will open, and your soul will rise in the sunlight of God’s love.
Lord Jesus, give the grace to experience the depth of your love . Amen
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