I know a youth minister who likes to tell the young people in his group that "God doesn't make junk." Teenagers, not unlike the rest of us, struggle mightily with their self-image.

Feelings of inadequacy, failure and rejection can be common, and intense. The expectations and judgments of friends, parents, teachers and coaches weigh heavily. Then there are the media images of perfection on television, the Internet and movies. It isn't too hard to see why anyone would feel like they are a step or two behind everyone else on the road to success.

"God doesn't make junk." This fellow's message was meant to tell young people that they are magnificent creations of God just as they are. It is a great message, and one that we probably don't hear enough at any age. The American Way is to always strive to be better, and to be constantly dissatisfied with our current condition. The Gospel, on the other hand, offers us a way to find contentment with who we are and what we have.

Today's first reading from the Book of Wisdom says this better than I can: "You have mercy on all, because you can do all things; and you overlook people's sins that they may repent. For you love all things that are and loathe nothing that you have made; for what you hated, you would not have fashioned…O Lord and lover of souls, for your imperishable spirit is in all things!"

You and I tend to be overwhelmed by the mistakes, failures and rejections of our lives. We see the selfish decisions that have hurt others, the strained relationships in our families and communities, and the insecurity that prevents us from loving others as ourselves. God doesn't. The eternal spirit of God is resident in us, and God relentlessly loves all that God has created.

This truth is born out in today's Gospel reading when Jesus calls, dines with and blesses one of the more notorious and hated characters in first century Israel --- the tax collector. Not that tax collectors are particularly popular today, but in Roman occupied Israel they were viewed as religious traitors as well as financial parasites.

Yet Jesus reaches out to Zacchaeus, a "chief" tax collector, and invites him to dinner. The crowd is scandalized, and when Zacchaeus pledges to repay anyone he has cheated and to give half his earnings to the poor, the message of Wisdom comes true when Jesus announces, "Today salvation has come to his house."

Jesus confirms that no junk has been made by God. God overlooks our sins that we may repent and fully experience God's unswerving love. Jesus picks one of the most despised figures of Jewish religious culture to make this point.

Of course, all of us have sinned and will continue to sin. All of us have at various times chosen money, status, career or beauty over God as a source of meaning and happiness in our lives. The good news of the Gospels is that God loves us still with the passion of a creator.

Bill Peatman writes from Napa.