Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 153
Lectionary: 153
Before the LORD the
whole universe is as a grain from a balance
or a drop of morning dew come down upon the earth.
But 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.
And how could a thing remain, unless you willed it;
or be preserved, had it not been called forth by you?
But you spare all things, because they are yours,
O LORD and lover of souls,
for your imperishable spirit is in all things!
Therefore you rebuke offenders little by little,
warn them and remind them of the sins they are committing,
that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in you, O LORD!
or a drop of morning dew come down upon the earth.
But 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.
And how could a thing remain, unless you willed it;
or be preserved, had it not been called forth by you?
But you spare all things, because they are yours,
O LORD and lover of souls,
for your imperishable spirit is in all things!
Therefore you rebuke offenders little by little,
warn them and remind them of the sins they are committing,
that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in you, O LORD!
Responsorial PsalmPS 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14
R. (cf. 1) I will praise your name for ever, my king and
my God.
I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
The LORD is faithful in all his words
and holy in all his works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
The LORD is faithful in all his words
and holy in all his works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
Reading 22 THES 1:11-2:2
Brothers and sisters:
We always pray for you,
that our God may make you worthy of his calling
and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose
and every effort of faith,
that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,
and you in him,
in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.
We ask you, brothers and sisters,
with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
and our assembling with him,
not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly, or to be alarmed
either by a "spirit," or by an oral statement,
or by a letter allegedly from us
to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.
We always pray for you,
that our God may make you worthy of his calling
and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose
and every effort of faith,
that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,
and you in him,
in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.
We ask you, brothers and sisters,
with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
and our assembling with him,
not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly, or to be alarmed
either by a "spirit," or by an oral statement,
or by a letter allegedly from us
to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.
GospelLK 19:1-10
At that time, Jesus
came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town.
Now a man there named Zacchaeus,
who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man,
was seeking to see who Jesus was;
but he could not see him because of the crowd,
for he was short in stature.
So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus,
who was about to pass that way.
When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said,
"Zacchaeus, come down quickly,
for today I must stay at your house."
And he came down quickly and received him with joy.
When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying,
"He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner."
But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord,
"Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor,
and if I have extorted anything from anyone
I shall repay it four times over."
And Jesus said to him,
"Today salvation has come to this house
because this man too is a descendant of Abraham.
For the Son of Man has come to seek
and to save what was lost."
Now a man there named Zacchaeus,
who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man,
was seeking to see who Jesus was;
but he could not see him because of the crowd,
for he was short in stature.
So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus,
who was about to pass that way.
When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said,
"Zacchaeus, come down quickly,
for today I must stay at your house."
And he came down quickly and received him with joy.
When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying,
"He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner."
But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord,
"Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor,
and if I have extorted anything from anyone
I shall repay it four times over."
And Jesus said to him,
"Today salvation has come to this house
because this man too is a descendant of Abraham.
For the Son of Man has come to seek
and to save what was lost."
Scripture Study
November 3, 2013 Thirty-First Sunday of Ordinary Time
In this thirty-first Sunday of Ordinary Time, the readings focus on God's mercy and our response to it. In the Gospel Zacchaeus responds generously to God's call and turns his life around. Paul urges us to conduct ourselves in such a way as to be worthy of God's call. Wisdom proclaims God love for all of His creatures. Zacchaeus climbed a tree in order to see Jesus; how much trouble am I willing to go through to see Jesus in my life? Zacchaeus responded with concrete actions; what concrete demands does discipleship make on our lives? How have we responded?
First Reading: Wisdom 11: 22--12: 2
22 Indeed, before you the whole universe is as a grain from a balance, or a drop of morning dew come down upon the earth. 23 But you have mercy on all, because you can do all things; and you overlook the sins of men that they may repent. 24 For you love all things that are and loathe nothing that you have made; for what you hated, you would not have fashioned. 25 And how could a thing remain, unless you willed it; or be preserved, had it not been called forth by you? 26 But you spare all things, because they are yours, O LORD and lover of souls, 1 for your imperishable spirit is in all things! 2 Therefore you rebuke offenders little by little, warn them, and remind them of the sins they are committing, that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in you, O LORD!
NOTES on First Reading:
* 11:22-12:2 This section of the Book of Wisdom is taken from a larger section (11:17-12:8) dealing with the idea that God is all-powerful and at the same time He is merciful because He loves His creatures.
* 11:22 A "grain" is a very small particle used for weighing on scales.
* 11:22 God is all-powerful but He is in control of His power. This control allows Him to show mercy to His creatures.
* 11:24-26 God would not have created and preserved what He did not love.
* 12:1-2 God does not abandon sinners but rather calls them to repentance over and over again.
Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1:11--2:2
11 To this end, we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ. 1 We ask you, brothers, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling with him, 2 not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly, or to be alarmed either by a "spirit," * or by an oral statement, or by a letter allegedly from us to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.
NOTES on Second Reading:
* 1:11 It is God's grace that will make the faithful worthy of the Father's call.
* 1:12 The fulfillment amounts to mutual glorification described in language borrowed from Isa 66:5. There it is used of the One God, Yahweh, Himself. Use of the word, grace (charis in Greek) describes the sovereign gift of both God the Father and of the Lord Jesus Christ. Both personal subjects being under the one article indicates their functioning as One Being.
* 2:1-2 Paul appeals for sober judgment about Christ's return. Rather than viewing the Parousia (Christ's return) as a particular date or time, Paul sees it as the fulfillment of Christian life. What is important about Christ's return is not the time of its occurrence but rather that we will be "gathered together to him." He warns them about being shaken from their wits which is rather extreme and may indicate some form of Dionysiac mania such as was common among the pagans of the Roman world. It may also indicate liturgical context such as a false oracle. Reference to a word may allude a forged letter or a false report of a sermon. See also 1 Cor14:26-331 Thes 5:27; 1 Cor 12:2-3a.
Gospel Reading: Luke 19: 1-10
1 He came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. 2 Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, 3 was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. 5 When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house." 6 And he came down quickly and received him with joy. 7 When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, "He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner." 8 But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over." 9 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost."
NOTES on Gospel:
* 19:1-10 The story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector, is unique to Luke's gospel. Luke uses Zacchaeus, a rich man (as said in Luke 19:2), to provide a contrast with the rich man of Luke 18:18-23. There the rich man was unable or unwilling to detach himself from his material possessions in order to become a follower of Jesus. Here Zacchaeus promises to give half of his possessions to the poor (Luke 19:8) and becomes a recipient of salvation (Luke 19:9-10). For Luke, this exemplifies the proper attitude toward wealth. Wealth in itself is not bad but it often possesses the wealthy to a greater degree than they possess it.
* 19:2 The name, Zacchaeus, means "pure" or "clean." Zacchaeus straddles two of Luke's symbolic worlds. He is the tax collector who responds generously to the call of God. He is also the rich man who liberates himself from his possessions only by great difficulty.
* 19:5 Zacchaeus' action is not at all in keeping with his dignity as either a rich man or as a chief tax collector and, in fact, expresses an extreme longing to see Jesus even if it is from an essentially hidden position. Jesus does not allow Zacchaeus to remain behind the scenes and calls out to him. Jesus then invites Himself to Zacchaeus's house. In the gospels the word, "today," often refers not only to the "today" in which the story took place, but also to the "today" in which the gospel is read. Jesus' presence causes Divine action to occur even in our today. Jesus is still inviting Himself into the lives of those who long to see Him.
* 19:6 Zacchaeus responds with joy and welcomes Jesus in contrast to the usual response given by the wealthy.
* 19:7 The crowd objects to Jesus crossing the boundaries that separate the clean from the unclean.
* 19:8 Jesus has previously responded to the objections of others to His association with "sinners" (5:27-32). Here Zacchaeus, himself, answers the objections by indicating the signs of his repentance. There is some argument as to the tense with which Zacchaeus' statements are to be translated: Some translators read the present tense (here) as futuristic in which case Zacchaeus is saying that he is no longer a sinner because he is resolved to change his ways. Others read it as iterative or customary in which case he is not a sinner because it is his customary conduct to be generous and just. By the second interpretation, Jesus merely vindicates Zacchaeus' reputation in verse 9. The problem with the second interpretation is that it would make Jesus' presence extraneous to salvation as Zacchaeus would have already achieved it on his own. Thus the first interpretation is more in keeping with the statement of Jesus in verses 9 and 10 as well as with the rest of the gospel. By giving away half of his possessions Zacchaeus is renouncing his identity as a "rich man." The fourfold restoration was traditional in cases of flagrant theft (Exod 21:37 and 2 Sam 12:6) although Zacchaeus as a tax collector could not be legally held to it.
* 19:9 The term translated as "a descendant of Abraham" literally means, "a son of Abraham." Zacchaeus repents and manifests his change of heart by attempting to amend his former ways and thus shows himself to be a true descendant of Abraham and a true heir to the promises of God in the Old Testament. This use of the depiction of Zacchaeus as a descendant of Abraham, the father of the Jews (Luke 1:73; 16:22-31), is based upon Luke's recognition of the central place occupied by Israel in the plan of salvation. Jesus presence has allowed a "rich man to pass through the eye of a needle (18:25)."
* 19:10 This verse sums up Luke's depiction of the role of Jesus as savior in this gospel. Jesus came to "seek out and to save the lost."
Meditation: "Zacchaeus
received Jesus joyfully"
What
would you do if Jesus knocked on your door and said, "I must stay at your
home today"? Would you be excited or embarrassed? Jesus often
"dropped-in" at unexpected times and he often visited the
"uninvited" – the poor, the lame, and even public sinners like Zacchaeus,
the tax collector! Tax collectors were despised and treated as outcasts, no
doubt because they over-charged people and accumulated great wealth at the
expense of others. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and was much hated by
all the people. Why would Jesus single him out for the honor of staying at his
home? Zacchaeus needed God's merciful love and forgiveness. In his encounter
with Jesus he found more than he imagined possible. He shows the depth of his
repentance by deciding to give half of his goods to the poor and to use the
other half for making restitution for fraud. Zacchaeus' testimony included more
than words. His change of heart resulted in a change of life, a change that the
whole community could experience as genuine.
Saint
Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) urges us to climb the sycamore tree like
Zacchaeus that we might see Jesus and embrace his cross for our lives:
Zacchaeus climbed away from the crowd and saw Jesus without the
crowd getting in his way. The crowd laughs at the lowly, to people walking the
way of humility, who leave the wrongs they suffer in God’s hands and do not
insist on getting back at their enemies. The crowd laughs at the lowly and
says, “You helpless, miserable clod, you cannot even stick up for yourself and
get back what is your own.” The crowd gets in the way and prevents Jesus from
being seen. The crowd boasts and crows when it is able to get back what it
owns. It blocks the sight of the one who said as he hung on the cross, “Father,
forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing. … He ignored
the crowd that was getting in his way. He instead climbed a sycamore tree, a
tree of “silly fruit.” As the apostle says, “We preach Christ crucified, a
stumbling block indeed to the Jews, [now notice the sycamore] but folly to the
Gentiles.” Finally, the wise people of this world laugh at us about the
cross of Christ and say, “What sort of minds do you people have, who worship a
crucified God?” What sort of minds do we have? They are certainly not your kind
of mind. “The wisdom of this world is folly with God.” No, we do not have
your kind of mind. You call our minds foolish. Say what you like, but for our
part, let us climb the sycamore tree and see Jesus. The reason you cannot see
Jesus is that you are ashamed to climb the sycamore tree.
Let Zacchaeus grasp the
sycamore tree, and let the humble person climb the cross. That is little
enough, merely to climb it. We must not be ashamed of the cross of Christ, but
we must fix it on our foreheads, where the seat of shame is. Above where all
our blushes show is the place we must firmly fix that for which we should never
blush. As for you, I rather think you make fun of the sycamore, and yet that is
what has enabled me to see Jesus. You make fun of the sycamore, because you are
just a person, but “the foolishness of God is wiser than men.”[Sermon 174.3.]
The Lord Jesus is always ready to make his home
with each one of us. Do you make room for him in your heart and in every area
of your life?
"Lord
Jesus, come and stay with me. Fill my life with your peace, my home with your
presence, and my heart with your praise. Help me to show kindness, mercy, and
goodness to all, even to those who cause me ill-will or harm."
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The Little Man in a
Tree
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Thirty-First Sunday
in Ordinary Time
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Father Steven
Reilly, LC
Luke 19: 1-10
He entered Jericho and was passing through
it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was
rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he
could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a
sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus
came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and
come down; for I must stay at your house today." So he hurried down and
was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, "He
has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner." Zacchaeus stood there
and said to the Lord, "Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give
to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four
times as much." Then Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come
to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to
seek out and to save the lost."
Introductory Prayer: Oh God, thank you for allowing me to come
into your presence. Your love enlarges my soul. I long to see your face! I
come to this prayer with a thirst to just be in your presence, relax under
your loving gaze. May my presence here be an expression of my love for you.
Petition: Lord, help me to overcome obstacles in my
spiritual life.
1. Climbing Trees: What a sight it must have been — that
rotund, little figure scampering up the tree. The astonished onlookers must
have guffawed and whistled at the chief tax collector tossing his dignity to
the winds as he huffed and puffed getting up that sycamore. Zacchaeus was
nothing if not persistent. He was used to overcoming obstacles as he fleeced
the tax payers of Jericho. But now his worldly skills were directed in a far
different way: He wanted to see Jesus! If only we showed half as much
persistence in pursuing our spiritual goals as we do our secular ones. When
we really, really want something, we can push, pull and tug to make sure that
we get over, around or under the obstacle that impedes our desires. But when
it’s a question of our prayer life, something as simple as a change in
schedule can seem insurmountable. Let’s yearn to see Christ! If we truly long
for his love, we will even climb trees to get it!
2. Called by Name: When the people looked at Zacchaeus in the
tree, they saw a hated enemy, to be laughed at with scorn. When Jesus looked
at Zacchaeus in the tree, he saw a soul with potential, to be called with
love. Jesus’ ability to read hearts enabled him to see the whole picture of
Zacchaeus. Yes, money had been his driving motivation, but there was an openness
in his heart that would be good soil for the seed. Jesus invited himself over
for dinner; Zacchaeus would have never imagined doing it himself. The Lord
was not embarrassed by Zacchaeus, and like the privileged souls of his
closest disciples, he called him by name. He wants to call us, too!
3. Christ’s Credibility: The people began to grumble about Jesus —
how could he spend time with such a sinner? His credibility is put to the
test. Zacchaeus’ response is proof to others that the way of righteousness
proclaimed by Jesus is true and real. Jesus cured lepers, made the cripple
walk and even raised the dead, but the dramatic conversions of great sinners
must have been the most astounding of his miracles. It was harder NOT to
believe Jesus in the face of such evidence. As Catholics, we have to be
proof, too, of the credibility of Christ working through the Church. When our
lives shine with charity and self-denial, we are living proof that the graces
received through the Eucharist (and all the other sacraments and blessings we
have as Catholics) are real.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, what joy you received through
Zacchaeus’ conversion. He responded fully to your grace. At times, I can drag
my feet even when I feel you calling me to another step forward in my
spiritual life. Help me to be generous, so that other souls will see how
wonderful it is to follow you!
Resolution: I will strive to overcome all obstacles to
my prayer life today.
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THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
SUNDAY,
NOVEMBER 3, LUKE 19:1-10(Wisdom 11:22―12:2; Psalm 145; 2
Thessalonians 1:11―2:2)
KEY VERSE: "Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham" (v 9).
READING: Only Luke tells the story of Zacchaeus the tax-collector whose determination enabled him to find salvation in Jesus. Zacchaeus was short in stature but lofty in his resolve to meet the Lord. The little man was unable to see over the crowds gathered around Jesus. So he perched atop a sycamore tree hoping to catch a glimpse of him as he passed through Jericho on his way to Jerusalem. When Jesus told Zacchaeus that he would be a guest at his house, he was overjoyed. When the crowd heard this, they complained about Jesus' habit of dining with sinners. As the chief tax-collector, Zacchaeus had the opportunity for personal gain through unjust means.But he promised to give half of his earnings to the poor, and make restitution for any overcharge. Jesus told Zacchaeus that he was a true "son of Abraham," worthy to inherit God's promise of salvation.
REFLECTING: Am I willing to go "out on a limb" for my faith?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to set aside my pride so that I might come to you.
I will praise your name for ever,
my king and my God.
‘Today, salvation has come to this house.’
In today’s gospel, a desire to see Jesus inspires the diminutive Zacchaeus to climb a sycamore tree to obtain a view of proceedings. Recognising this desire, Jesus calls Zacchaeus down and draws him into a closer relationship. As with the sycamore tree, prayer offers us a vantage point upon which to gaze upon Jesus. Like the branches of a tree, ways of praying proliferate, with numerous schools of prayer and techniques to choose from. However, while providing a vantage point from which to approach Jesus, the way we pray is a means to an end not an end in itself. Like Zacchaeus, we too must be open to being drawn ever more deeply into a personal encounter with our Lord .
November 3
St. Martin de Porres
(1579-1639)
St. Martin de Porres
(1579-1639)
"Father unknown" is the cold legal phrase sometimes used
on baptismal records. "Half-breed" or "war souvenir" is the
cruel name inflicted by those of "pure" blood. Like many others,
Martin might have grown to be a bitter man, but he did not. It was said that
even as a child he gave his heart and his goods to the poor and despised.
He was
the son of a freed woman of Panama, probably black but also possibly of Native
American stock, and a Spanish grandee of Lima, Peru. His parents never
married each other. Martin inherited the features and dark complexion of his
mother. That irked his father, who finally acknowledged his son after eight
years. After the birth of a sister, the father abandoned the family. Martin was
reared in poverty, locked into a low level of Lima’s society.
When he
was 12, his mother apprenticed him to a barber-surgeon. He learned how to
cut hair and also how to draw blood (a standard medical treatment then), care
for wounds and prepare and administer medicines.
After a
few years in this medical apostolate, Martin applied to the Dominicans to be a
"lay helper," not feeling himself worthy to be a religious brother.
After nine years, the example of his prayer and penance, charity and humility
led the community to request him to make full religious profession. Many of his
nights were spent in prayer and penitential practices; his days were filled
with nursing the sick and caring for the poor. It was particularly impressive
that he treated all people regardless of their color, race or status. He was
instrumental in founding an orphanage, took care of slaves brought from Africa
and managed the daily alms of the priory with practicality as well as
generosity. He became the procurator for both priory and city, whether it was a
matter of "blankets, shirts, candles, candy, miracles or prayers!"
When his priory was in debt, he said, "I am only a poor mulatto. Sell me.
I am the property of the order. Sell me."
Side by
side with his daily work in the kitchen, laundry and infirmary, Martin’s life
reflected God’s extraordinary gifts: ecstasies that lifted him into the air,
light filling the room where he prayed, bilocation, miraculous knowledge,
instantaneous cures and a remarkable rapport with animals. His charity extended
to beasts of the field and even to the vermin of the kitchen. He would excuse
the raids of mice and rats on the grounds that they were underfed; he kept
stray cats and dogs at his sister’s house.
He became
a formidable fundraiser, obtaining thousands of dollars for dowries for poor
girls so that they could marry or enter a convent.
Many of
his fellow religious took him as their spiritual director, but he continued to
call himself a "poor slave." He was a good friend of another
Dominican saint of Peru, Rose of Lima (August 23).
Comment:
Racism is a sin almost nobody confesses. Like pollution, it is a "sin of the world" that is everybody's responsibility but apparently nobody's fault. One could hardly imagine a more fitting patron of Christian forgiveness (on the part of those discriminated against) and Christian justice (on the part of reformed racists) than Martin de Porres.
Racism is a sin almost nobody confesses. Like pollution, it is a "sin of the world" that is everybody's responsibility but apparently nobody's fault. One could hardly imagine a more fitting patron of Christian forgiveness (on the part of those discriminated against) and Christian justice (on the part of reformed racists) than Martin de Porres.
Quote:
In 1962, Blessed John XXIII remarked at the canonization of Martin: "He excused the faults of others. He forgave the bitterest injuries, convinced that he deserved much severer punishments on account of his own sins. He tried with all his might to redeem the guilty; lovingly he comforted the sick; he provided food, clothing and medicine for the poor; he helped, as best he could, farm laborers and Negroes, as well as mulattoes, who were looked upon at that time as akin to slaves: thus he deserved to be called by the name the people gave him: 'Martin of Charity.'"
In 1962, Blessed John XXIII remarked at the canonization of Martin: "He excused the faults of others. He forgave the bitterest injuries, convinced that he deserved much severer punishments on account of his own sins. He tried with all his might to redeem the guilty; lovingly he comforted the sick; he provided food, clothing and medicine for the poor; he helped, as best he could, farm laborers and Negroes, as well as mulattoes, who were looked upon at that time as akin to slaves: thus he deserved to be called by the name the people gave him: 'Martin of Charity.'"
Patron Saint of:
African-Americans
Barbers
Hairdressers
Race relations
Social justice
African-Americans
Barbers
Hairdressers
Race relations
Social justice
LECTIO: 31ST
SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C)
Lectio:
Sunday, November 3, 2013
The conversion of Zacchaeus
Luke 19:1-10
1. LECTIO
a) Opening prayer:
a) Opening prayer:
O God, creator and Father of all the children
of Abraham, grant us the light of your Spirit that we may serve you well and
worthily, grant that we may follow in the footsteps of your Word and that our
actions may reflect that we are disciples of the one Master who became man for
love of us and for our salvation.
b) A reading of the Gospel:
1 He
entered Jericho and was going through the town 2 and suddenly a man whose name
was Zacchaeus made his appearance; he was one of the senior tax collectors and
a wealthy man. 3 He kept trying to see which Jesus was, but he was too short
and could not see him for the crowd; 4 so he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore
tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus who was to pass that way. 5 When Jesus reached
the spot he looked up and spoke to him, 'Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I
am to stay at your house today.' 6 And he hurried down and welcomed him
joyfully. 7 They all complained when they saw what was happening. 'He has gone
to stay at a sinner's house,' they said. 8 But Zacchaeus stood his ground and
said to the Lord, 'Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor,
and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount.' 9 And
Jesus said to him, 'Today salvation has come to this house, because this man
too is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of man has come to seek out and save
what was lost.'
c) A
moment of silence:
so that
the Word of God may penetrate us and enlighten our life.
2.
MEDITATIO
a) A
key to the reading:
In the
Gospel story, Luke likes to show the mercy of the Master towards sinners and Lk
19: 1-10 is one example. The story of the conversion of Zacchaeus tells us that
no human condition is incompatible with salvation: Today salvation has
come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham, (Lk 19: 9) says
Jesus. The opening text of chapter 19 comes after the teachings and attitudes
that Jesus presents to us in chapter 18. In that chapter we find the parable of
the Pharisee who judges and the Publican who humbles himself before God and
begs for pardon (Lk 18: 9-14). Then there is the scene where Jesus welcomes the
children, warning the disciples that it is to anyone who is a child such
as these that the kingdom of God belongs…anyone who does not welcome the
kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it (Lk 18: 16-17).
Immediately after this, Jesus tells the rich aristocrat who wishes to obtain
eternal life (Lk 18: 18) of the need to sell everything and distribute the
money to the poor in order to follow Jesus and obtain treasure in
heaven (Lk 18: 22). Then comes the teaching of Jesus on riches that are an
obstacle to salvation and the promise of a reward for those who renounce all
for the sake of the Kingdom of God (Lk 18: 24-30). These parts of chapter 18
seem to lead us to the story of the conversion of Zacchaeus. Before the story
of Zacchaeus we have two texts which contain important details:
1. The
third prophecy of the passion where Jesus reminds us thatnow we are going up to
Jerusalem (Lk 18: 31). It would seem that Luke wishes to place everything
within the context of the following of Christ; and
2. The healing of the blind man of Jericho, who called Jesus, even though the crowd stopped him from going to the Master (Lk 18: 35-39). Once more, Jesus gives light to darkened eyes and says that faith has saved this blind man (Lk 18: 42). After regaining his sight, the blind man was able to follow Jesus praising God (Lk 18: 43).
2. The healing of the blind man of Jericho, who called Jesus, even though the crowd stopped him from going to the Master (Lk 18: 35-39). Once more, Jesus gives light to darkened eyes and says that faith has saved this blind man (Lk 18: 42). After regaining his sight, the blind man was able to follow Jesus praising God (Lk 18: 43).
These
two texts together with the previous ones shed light on the story of the
conversion of Zacchaeus. In this story we find surprising details that are
already present in the abovementioned texts:
1.
Zacchaeus is a rich man and chief of the Publicans – Lk 19: 2
2. He sought to see Jesus, but was not able because of the crowd – Lk 19: 3
3. He was short – Lk 19: 3
4. The crowd’s judgment that stamps Zacchaeus: a sinner - Lk 19: 7
5. The distribution of goods to the poor – Lk 19: 8
6. Jesus’ proclamation that salvation has come to the house of Zacchaeus – Lk 19: 9.
2. He sought to see Jesus, but was not able because of the crowd – Lk 19: 3
3. He was short – Lk 19: 3
4. The crowd’s judgment that stamps Zacchaeus: a sinner - Lk 19: 7
5. The distribution of goods to the poor – Lk 19: 8
6. Jesus’ proclamation that salvation has come to the house of Zacchaeus – Lk 19: 9.
Zacchaeus,
a short man, one who is rich and chief of the Publicans, welcomes the Kingdom
of God like a child. He humbles himself and repents of his past and thus finds
the salvation that comes from God in Jesus Christ the good Samaritan (Lk 10:
29-37) who comes to us to seek out and save what was lost (Lk 19:
10). This is a theme dear to Luke and we find it in other parts of his
Gospel story (e.g.: Lk 15: 11-31).
b) A
time for personal reflection:
Place
yourself silently before the word of God and reflect on the texts presented in
this key to the reading. Ask yourself:
1. What
is the connection between these texts?
2. What does salvation mean to you?
3. Zacchaeus, a short man, shows his availability to welcome the Lord by climbing a sycamore tree. His curiosity was rewarded with Jesus’ visit. What do you do to show your availability to welcome the salvation of God?
4. Zacchaeus’ action reminds us of the curiosity of Moses that urges him towards the burning bush. There too Moses found salvation. Do you approach the Lord? Do you feel attracted to Him?
5. Jesus goes to Zacchaeus in his sinfulness and in the house he brings him salvation. How attached are you to sin? Do you allow the Master to come to you, in that dark house?
2. What does salvation mean to you?
3. Zacchaeus, a short man, shows his availability to welcome the Lord by climbing a sycamore tree. His curiosity was rewarded with Jesus’ visit. What do you do to show your availability to welcome the salvation of God?
4. Zacchaeus’ action reminds us of the curiosity of Moses that urges him towards the burning bush. There too Moses found salvation. Do you approach the Lord? Do you feel attracted to Him?
5. Jesus goes to Zacchaeus in his sinfulness and in the house he brings him salvation. How attached are you to sin? Do you allow the Master to come to you, in that dark house?
3.
ORATIO
a) The
prayer of the community:
O God,
who in your Son have come to seek and save the lost, make us worthy of your
call: bring to fulfilment our every wish for good, so that we may know how to
welcome you joyfully into our house to share the goods of the earth and of
heaven. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
b) A
moment of silence:
for personal prayer.
for personal prayer.
4.
CONTEMPLATIO
You
will reveal the path of life to me,
and at your right hand everlasting pleasures.
(Psalm 15/16: 11)
and at your right hand everlasting pleasures.
(Psalm 15/16: 11)
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