On the Sunday of Zacchaeus (in the Byzantine tradition), Fr. Matthew Howell talks about the difference between true desire and wishful thinking. He points out that Zacchaeus brought his desire to fruition, how he acted on his desire rather than merely wishing to meet Jesus, and how in like manner we must do more than wish to be with Christ but our desire must bear fruit through the work of repentance in order to gain salvation, which is union and communion with God: "When we desire the Lord and encounter the Lord, that desire must bear fruit, otherwise it is wishful thinking." Fr. Matthew also talks about the fruit of Zacchaeus' repentance based on his encounter with God's love, the resulting of the relationship with Jesus, both stemming from obedience to Christ. Along the way, Fr. Matthew compares Zacchaeus to Al Capone and Darth Vader, quotes the children's song about Zacchaeus, and even references the television show Bewitched.
