a wee little man

It is unfortunate that we can only think of Zacchaeus as the 'wee little man' that we know him to be through the infamous Sunday school song.  Poor guy.  He is much more than that.  No one ever sings about him being a 'son of Abraham', do they?  This is what Jesus calls him.  Why don't we sing about that?

There is a powerful word from the passage in Luke 19.  It is the word, 'too'.  In referencing him to be a 'son of Abraham', Jesus makes sure to use this word.  Here is what it says from Luke 19:9 - 

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.

Why does Jesus speak like this?  On whose behalf is he speaking for?  Many might think that in the beautiful declaration that Jesus is speaking Zacchaeus' new identity into being. However, with the use of the word, 'too', he includes a different listener into his hearing.  He is not so much speaking to Zacchaeus, but to others, even us.  

How many times have we placed others on the outside of our category, group, or faith, while all along they were part of the 'too'.  Jesus is inclusive on this point.  He includes Zacchaeus as part of the great faith story that we share.  

Who are those that we have tried to keep on the outside that Jesus has been trying to say to us, 'Yes, this person, too, is a Son/Daughter of Abraham'.