Tuesday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time
Rev 3: 1 – 6, 14 – 22; Ps 15; Luke 19: 1 – 10
St. Luke reports that the tax collector, Zacchaeus, was short of stature. Taking a cue from that, this homily will be short in length!
In this Gospel two agendas meet; one is absolutely divine: “The Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.” The other agenda is very human: “I’ll climb this sycamore tree to see this Jesus” – a curious heart, and a heart touched by grace, for sure.
And looking up Jesus had to smile, perhaps, even laugh at the sight of this mean perched in the tree. And Jesus could not resist – “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for I must stay at your house today!” Jesus delights in Zacchaeus and he, in turn, is overwhelmed and to say that this tax collector is delighted in Jesus is an understatement.
Perhaps, there is something about prayer in this encounter. When we are moved to pray, is it not because Jesus has spoken: “Come, I mean to stay with you, I must be present to you”? And because we are people of faith, men and women baptized into Christ, is not our response, our personal prayer: “Lord, and I must stay with You, be present to You.”
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