A small person
What a consolation and encouragement for us that the Lord Jesus wants to be our guest, our friend, our companion on the road! And this holds true whoever we are, whatever we have done wrong. The Lord Jesus sees us and knows us and he wants to stay with us today, now, in our actual situation.
The patient, merciful God gives the sinner a chance to repent, for he loves people. Even his punishments are “educational,” intended not to condemn but to correct and to lead to conversion.
A real encounter with Jesus cannot leave us indifferent. Zacchaeus meets Jesus and is converted.
First Reading: Wisdom 11:22–12:2
Like a speck of dust on a scale—that’s how the whole world weighs in before you—like a drop of morning dew. But have mercy on us all. You can do that; pay no attention to our sins—we’re already doing the penance. You look upon created things with delight; you dislike nothing you’ve cre- ated. Honestly, if you dislike something you shouldn’t have created it in the first place.
How could the china keep from chipping if you hadn’t made it unbreakable in the first place?
Likewise, how could something not called into existence by you last forever?
Spare us, O Lord; we come from your collection; we wear your label; we bear your mark.
In all created beings, O Lord, you find a spark of your own immortal spirit. To those who wander from the straight and narrow, you provide mid-course correction. To those who sin against you, you give a sharp warning plus a hopeful word; you want everyone to leave the wicked life behind and believe in you.
Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1:11–2:2
Because we know that this extraordinary day is just ahead, we pray for you all the time—pray that our God will make you fit for what he’s called you to be, pray that he’ll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with his own energy so that it all amounts to something. If your life honors the name of Jesus, he will honor you. Grace is behind and through all of this, our God giving himself freely, the Master, Jesus Christ, giving himself freely.
Now, friends, read these next words carefully. Slow down and don’t go jumping to conclusions regarding the day when our Master, Jesus Christ, will come back and we assemble to welcome him.
Gospel: Luke 19:1-10
Jesus entered and walked through Jericho. There was a man there, his name Zacchaeus, the head tax man and quite rich. He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way—he was a short man and couldn’t see over the crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when he came by.
When Jesus got to the tree, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home.” Zacchaeus scrambled out of the tree, hardly believing his good luck, delighted to take Jesus home with him. Everyone who saw the incident was indignant and grumped, “What business does he have getting cozy with this crook?”
Zacchaeus just stood there, a little stunned. He stammered apologetically, “Master, I give away half my income to the poor—and if I’m caught cheating, I pay four times the damages.”
Jesus said, “Today is salvation day in this home! Here he is: Zacchaeus, son of Abraham! For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost.”
Prayer
Lord God, lover of life,
we are small before you
because we are aware that we are sinners.
We bless you for the joy and the forgiveness
that you let your Son Jesus bring to your people.
Let him be very close to us,
so that he may change our lives and mentality.
May he dispose us to share with our brothers and sisters
your mercy and forgiving love.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.
Video available at: bibleclaret.org
