The Gospel passage for this Sunday tells the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10) the Tax Collector, who climbed a tree in order to be able to look over the heads of the crowd and see Jesus as he walked by. Jesus spotted him and went back with him to his house for a meal. Zacchaeus was so overwhelmed by Jesus’ response that he pledged to give away half of his money to the poor and to pay out fourfold to anyone he had cheated. In order to do this, he would need to identify the victims of his dishonesty, hear their story, and apologise for what he had done. This is an example of ‘restorative justice’ – victims get a chance to tell offenders the real impact of their crime, to get answers to their questions and to receive an apology. It holds offenders to account for what they have done. This doesn’t need a big canvas such as the Truth and Reconciliation Committee in South Africa to be effective. A true apology is something stronger than a vague expression of regret. Next time that you feel that you have done something wrong, apologise directly to the other person. You will find it a liberating experience for both of you.

Weekly reflections on the Gospel for the coming Sunday are available on request. They will come once a week and will never be more than 200 words. If you would like to receive these emails then please email the Parish Secretary