The Zacchaeus Phenomenon: Why the Lost Are Returning to the Church

About this sermon

In this homily for Zacchaeus Sunday, we reflect on what can be called “The Zacchaeus Phenomenon” — the surprising and hopeful reality that while many longtime parishioners have passed on or can no longer attend, new seekers are steadily finding their way into Orthodox and Catholic churches. A brother priest shares how, over eight years, his parish has completely turned over — not shrinking, but doubling, as those who are lost and searching replace those who have gone before them. This is not accidental. A generation disillusioned with the world is searching for meaning, beauty, goodness, and truth — and finding them in Jesus Christ. Yet the Gospel challenges us with an uncomfortable question: When newcomers enter our churches, do they encounter Christ only in the Chalice — or do they encounter Christ in us? Drawing from the Gospel of Zacchaeus, this homily calls us to examine our own hearts: Are we welcoming to those who are new? Do we notice the person standing alone at coffee hour? Do we help them follow the liturgy, sing, and feel at home? Do we reflect the image of Christ, who came to seek and to save the lost? As we begin the Pre-Lenten journey and approach the Triodion and Pascha, may we become living icons of Christ to every Zacchaeus who walks through our doors. 📖 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10) 00:00 Opening Prayer & Greeting 00:18 A Question from a Brother Priest 01:01 A Parish That Doubled Through Turnover 01:44 Naming the “Zacchaeus Phenomenon” 02:09 A Generation Searching for Meaning 02:43 Zacchaeus: A Good Life, Yet Something Missing 03:08 Christ Came to Seek and Save the Lost 03:31 The Danger of Forgetting the Human Encounter 04:00 The Crowd That Grumbled 04:39 Do Newcomers Encounter Christ in Us? 05:13 Zacchaeus Sunday and the Call to Prepare for Lent 05:31 Becoming the Image of Christ 05:46 Closing Prayer For more please visit https://www.youtube.com/@steliasbrampton & say 3 Hail Marys for the priest 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 Support Catholic Businesses here - https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ Sensus Fidelium Press - https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ Sensus Fidelium Apps - https://sensusfidelium.tv/ Support Sensus Fidelium - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 🙏🏻PLEASE HELP OUR CHANNEL GROW 🙏🏻 ▶️ 1. Become a Channel Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SensusFidelium ▶️ 2. Visit the website https://www.sensusfidelium.us for Gueranger, Saint of the Day, Apologetics, Meditation by the Saints, Scripture Study and more. ▶️ 3. Subscribe to Other Video Platforms 🔴 SpiritusTV - https://spiritustv.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 BitChute --- https://www.bitchute.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium/ 🔴 Rumble --- https://rumble.com/c/c-298311 🔴 My Catholic Tube - https://mycatholictube.com/videos/sensus-fidelium-channel/ 🔴 LBRY.tv --- https://lbry.tv/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 ODYSEE - https://odysee.com/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 UGETube - https://videos.utahgunexchange.com/@Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 BrandNewTube - https://brandnewtube.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 GabTV - https://tv.gab.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 GloriaTV - https://gloria.tv/Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 Brighteon - https://www.brighteon.com/channels/sensusfidelium ▶️ 4. Paypal, Bitcoin, Anedot, Stripe, Square & PO Box donations - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ ▶️ 5. YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 Please "Like" our videos so that Youtube shares it to others by clicking the "Like" thumbs-up under the video = 👍🏻 ▶️ 6. Please share this video 📲, and help others find Christ inside the Catholic Church! Please share this video on Facebook and Twitter using the share button. ▶️ 7. Follow on Social Media: 🔴 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SensusFidelium/ 🔴 Twitter: https://https://twitter.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 🔴 Parler: https://parler.com/profile/Sensusfidelium/posts 🔴 SP3RN: https://www.sp3rn.com/community/pages/14-sensus-fidelium 🔴 GAB: https://gab.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 Bastyon: https://bastyon.com/sensusfidelium 🔴 GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/sensus_fidelium 🔴 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sensusfidelium/ 🔴 Telegram: https//t.me/RealSensusFidelium ▶️ 8. Follow on iTunes: 🔴 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sensus-fidelium-catholic-podcast/id1477010758 #Zacchaeus #ZacchaeusSunday #OrthodoxHomily #CatholicHomily #SeekAndSaveTheLost #ChurchGrowth #ReturningToFaith #ChristianHospitality #PreLent #Triodion #Pascha #FindingMeaning #BeautyGoodnessTruth #JesusChrist #FaithJourney

Topics

• Suffering & Trials
• Church & Fellowship
• The Church