From the Holy Gospel according to Luke
Luke 19:1-10At that time: Jesus entering in, he walked through Jericho. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And so on.
Homily by Pope St. Gregory (the Great)
Bk. xxviii of Moral Reflections on Job, ch. 27
If we would be truly wise, and behold wisdom herself, we must humbly acknowledge ourselves to be fools. Let us cast away harmful wisdom, and learn praiseworthy folly. For this reason indeed is it written God hath chosen the foolish things of the world, to confound the wise. 1 Cor. 1:27 And again it is said If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 3:18. And unto this doth the very Gospel bear witness, wherein it is said that Zacchaeus sought to see Jesus, Who He was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him; for He was to pass that way. For this name Sycamore, being interpreted, signifieth the Foolish Fig.
Little Zacchaeus therefore accepted the humiliation of having recourse to the sycamore and saw the Lord. They who humbly choose to be fools in the estimation of the world, have a deep insight into the wisdom of God. The press standeth in our way, on account of our little stature, when we are fain to see the Lord; for the toilsome din of worldly business tormenteth our weak minds, so as to hinder our perceiving the light of the truth. But we climb up wisely into the sycamore tree, if we willingly give up our minds to that folly which God giveth unto us. What can be more utter folly (in this world) than not to seek for that we have lost, to leave that whereof we have been robbed in the hands of our despoilers, to take no revenge for wrongs which have been done us, yea, even to offer to him that taketh away our cloak, our coat also, and be patient?
The Lord biddeth us, as it were, to climb up into the sycamore, where He saith Of him that taketh away thy goods, ask them not again. Luke 6:30. And again Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. ~Matth. 5:39. From the boughs of this sycamore tree, the Lord is seen passing by. He may indeed, as yet, not be seen face to Face, but by this wise folly the inward eye may see the Wisdom of God, as it were, passing by, even that Wisdom Which they that are wise in their own conceit cannot see. They are mixed up in the overbearing press of their own imaginations, and have not yet found the sycamore tree where into to climb up, if they would see the Lord.
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