All that God has created is good. The first reading says that God loves all his creatures, otherwise he would not have made them. How can man then hate something or somebody? The gospel is showing us a man who, according to the mind of the time, was totally evil and was thus to be banned, despised and hated. The way Jesus looked at Zacchaeus teaches us how we should look at people. The bystanders trying to disapprove the favorable attention which Jesus paid to Zacchaeus, who was branded as a sinner. In fact, bystanders were shocked and murmured against Jesus. Despite the disapproval of the crowd, Zacchaeus made the right decision. He realized that it was Jesus to whom he had to turn in order to strengthen out his life. He understood that Jesus was full of love and mercy. Zacchaeus also had determination. He was not going to let anyone or anything interfere with his meeting Jesus, not the objections of those who judged him unworthy, nor his small stature which prevented him from seeing Jesus over the heads of the crowd. After his meeting with Jesus, Zacchaeus pledged to repent, to change his conduct in accord with the teachings of Jesus. What a great conversion! It was the happiest day of his life! What Jesus did for Zacchaeus, he has done for us. He has entered our world, which in truth is the home of sinners. We are blessed indeed by this great love, great sacrifice offered for us by the Son of God.