Pope reflects on story of Zacchaeus at Angelus
(Vatican
Radio) In his reflection ahead of the Angelus prayer, Pope Francis spoke about
the day’s Gospel, which told the story of Jesus meeting, and dining with,
Zacchaeus, a publican. Because he was a public sinner, and because of his small
stature, Zacchaeus had to climb a tree in order to see Jesus when He came to
Jericho. When the Lord arrived, He called out, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly,
for today I must stay at your house.”
“We
can imagine the amazement of Zacchaeus!” Pope Francis said. Jesus’ mission of
salvation, he said, includes all humanity, and even extends to Zacchaeus, “a
dishonest man, despised by all.” But the gaze of Jesus, the Pope said, “goes
beyond sins and prejudices. He sees the person with the eyes of God, which does
not stop at past evil, but sees the good future.”
The
Holy Father said that, although we sometimes seek to correct or convert sinners
by rebuking or reproaching them, Jesus shows us another way: helping someone
who has made mistakes to see their true worth, “the worth God continues to see
despite everything, despite their mistakes.” This approach, he said, sometimes
leads to a positive surprise, it can help the person to grow and change.
Pope
Francis concluded his reflection with the prayer: “May the Virgin Mary help us
to see the good that is in the people we encounter each day, so that all might
be encouraged to bring out the image of God impressed on their hearts.”
Following
the Angelus, and after his greetings to various pilgrim groups, Pope Francis
asked for prayers for his upcoming voyage to Sweden on the occasion of the
commemoration of the Protestant Reformation: “I ask all of you to pray that
this voyage might be a new stage in the journey of fraternity toward full
communion.”
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