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.
AlleluiaJN 3:16
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
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."
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.
Faith
welcomes Christ in our heart and home
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:
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]
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."
Daily Quote from the
early church fathers: To see Christ, by Cyril of
Alexandria (376-444 AD)
"Come
and let us see what was the method of Zacchaeus's conversion. He desired to see
Jesus and therefore climbed into a sycamore tree, and so a seed of salvation
sprouted within him. Christ saw this with the eyes of deity. Looking up, he
also saw Zacchaeus with the eyes of humanity, and since it was his purpose for
all to be saved, he extends his gentleness to him. To encourage him, he says,
'Come down quickly.' Zacchaeus searched to see Christ, but the multitude
prevented him, not so much that of the people but of his sins. He was short of
stature, not merly in a bodily point of view but also spiritually. He could not
see him unless he were raised up from the earth and climbed into the sycamore,
by which Christ was about to pass. The story contains a puzzle. In no other way
can a person see Christ and believe in him except by climbing up into the sycamore,
by making foolish his earthly members of fornication, uncleanness,
etc." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 127)
31st Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle C
Note: Where a Scripture text is underlined in the body of this discussion, it is recommended
that the reader look up and read that passage.
1st Reading - Wisdom 11:22-12:1
The Book of Wisdom, or Wisdom of Solomon as it is called in some translations of
the Bible, is believed to have been written in Greek, in Alexandria, around 50 B.C.. Although
the book itself claims that it was written by Solomon, it was in fact written some 870 years
later with the author, in order to highlight the importance of the work, using the prestige of
Solomon, the greatest of the wise men of Israel. This attribution to another is called
“pseudonimity” and was also used in the book of Ecclesiastes.
The author abominates any kind of polytheism and is proud to belong to a “holy and
blameless race.” The first part of the book (chapters 1 - 5) is prophetic in style and
somewhat Hebraic in the concepts it uses. It exhorts people to practice righteousness and
sincerely seek God. The second part (chapters 6 - 9) concentrates on the source of wisdom
and the need to obtain wisdom. The third part (chapters 10 - 19), from which our reading
today comes, speaks of the magnificence of wisdom as demonstrated by the history of the
chosen people. Today we hear that God spares men because He loves them.
22 Indeed, before you the whole universe is as a grain from a balance,
A grain is a tiny particle used for weighing in scales.
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.
He can be merciful too.
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, 12:1 for your imperishable
spirit is in all things!
This refers either to wisdom as the agent of God’s immanence or to the breath of life put in
creatures by God.
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!
God, whose power is irresistible and who is therefore free of constraint, loves the things
that His creative power has made, for only love can explain His having created and
preserved them. Because of His love, He pardons them and is patient in their regard so that
they might repent. God even gave the wicked Canaanites a chance to repent because they
too were men whom He had created.
2nd Reading - 2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2
Today we begin our study of Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians.
Accompanied by Silas, St. Paul arrived at Thessalonica in the course of his second
apostolic journey (A.D. 49-52) after leaving Philippi around the summer of the year 50.
Thessalonica, now known as Salonica, is situated on the Aegean Sea and was a
flourishing center of trade in St. Paul’s time. Founded in 315 B.C. by Cassander, who named
it after his wife, a sister of Alexander the Great, the city came under the Romans in 186 B.C..
As far as religion was concerned it was a typical pagan city. Archaeology has unearthed the
remains of many statues of gods and priestesses which give an idea of the religious
practices of the Thessalonians. Inscriptions discovered indicate that they were very
ignorant of religious truth and had no clear view of the survival of the soul after death.
There were quite a number of Jews living in Thessalonica. In keeping with his
custom, St. Paul went first to the synagogue to proclaim the good news: Jesus was the
messiah, the Old Testament prophecies had come true in Him, He had redeemed mankind
by His passion and resurrection. We know that he preached in the synagogue on three
successive Sabbaths (Acts 17:2) but he may have stayed there for as long as two months,
lodging in the house of Jason. As a result of his preaching many Jews and Gentiles came to
believe, including “not a few of the leading women” (Acts 17:4). His success earned him the
envy of certain Jews, who organized demonstrations and attacked Jason’s house, looking
for Paul and Silas. Not finding them, they brought Jason before the city authorities and he
had to go bail for the two apostles (Acts 17:5-9). This led to St. Paul and his companions
leaving the city in a hurry the same night – going first to Beroea (Acts 17:10) and later to
Athens (Acts 17:15).
Paul’s unexpected departure from Thessalonica meant that the instruction of the
recent converts was cut short; also their situation became difficult due to persecution by
the Jews. This led the apostle to send Timothy to confirm them in the faith (1 Thessalonians
3:1-2) and bring back news of them.
Timothy caught up with Paul in Corinth and gave him a good report of the
Thessalonians: they were persevering in faith and charity, despite still being harassed.
Timothy also reported that certain questions were troubling the Thessalonians – things to
do with life after death, and the second coming.
The apostle wrote the first letter, which he sent via Timothy, to complete his
interrupted preaching and teaching. It had the effect of reassuring the Thessalonians about
the fate of those who had already died in the Lord. However, some did not understand him
correctly; some so misunderstood him in fact that they began to give up working (2
Thessalonians 3:11). When Paul heard of this he wrote the second letter to clear up the
misunderstanding.
11 [ ] [W]e 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,
Moral fulfillment depends on God’s own power. It is His grace that will make the faithful
worthy of the Father’s call. Accordingly, this fulfillment will amount to mutual glorification
at the parousia of their intimate personal relationship to the Lord Jesus.
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. 2:1 We ask you, brothers, with regard
to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling with him,
The writer appeals for sober judgment about Christ’s triumphal coming, which he regards
not as a date, but as the fulfillment of Christian life.
“When the resurrection will be, he has not said: ‘It will come in due order’; he has said ‘and
our assembling with him.’ This point in quite important. Observe how Paul’s exhortation is
accompanied by praise and encouragement, for he makes it clear that Jesus and all the
saints will certainly appear at that time with us.” [Saint John Chrysostom (between A.D.
398-404), Homilies on the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians 3]
2 not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly,
Sort of a mania, if you would, about the coming of the end time.
or to be alarmed either by a “spirit,” or by an oral statement,
A charismatic gift of prophecy.
or by a letter allegedly from us
A forged letter. It is not clear that forged letters were actually circulating.
to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.
“Therefore, not to know the times is something different from moral decay and the love of
vice. For when the apostle Paul said ‘Don’t be shaken out of your minds suddenly or be
alarmed either by a spirit, or an oral statement, or a letter allegedly from us to the effect
that the day of the Lord is at hand,’ he obviously did not want them to believe those who
thought the coming of the Lord was already at hand. Neither, moreover, did he want them
to be like the wicked servant and say,’My Lord will not be coming for a long time,’ and
deliver themselves over to destruction by pride and immoral behavior. Thus Paul’s desire
that they should not listen to false rumors about the imminent approach of the last day was
consistent with his wish that they should await the coming of their Lord fully prepared and
ready for the journey, with lamps burning.” [Saint Augustine of Hippo (ca. A.D. 418), Letters
199,1.2]
Gospel - Luke 19:1-10
As Jesus draws closer to Jerusalem and His passion, He continues to outrage the
Pharisees by associating with people whom the Pharisees consider less than worthy – the
poor, the afflicted, the sinners. Since to the Pharisees a man is known by the company he
keeps, Jesus surely cannot be from God because His associates don’t keep all the ritual
commandments. Today we hear the story of Zacchaeus the Publican.
19:1 He came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. 2 Now a man there
named Zacchaeus,
The name means “clean.”
who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man,
The tax collector received his funds from whatever “excess” tax he collected – over and
above what had been levied. Like other rich men, he was probably “attached” to his riches
as well.
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,
A short trunk and wide lateral branches made it easy to climb.
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.”
Today; the waiting is over. God’s salvation is not something to be considered sometime in
the future, it is already being inaugurated.
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.”
The generic “all” murmur against Jesus’ crossing the boundaries separating the “clean”
from the “unclean.”
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
There is controversy over these words being translated in the present tense – if one
interprets the tense as futuristic, then Zacchaeus is saying he is no longer a sinner – he
resolves to change his ways. If one views it as present tense, then Zacchaeus is arguing that
he is not a sinner because it is his customary conduct to be generous and just. In this case
Jesus, in verse 9, vindicates the good reputation of Zacchaeus. The futuristic interpretation
is preferred.
I shall repay it four times over.”
Zacchaeus goes way beyond the requirements of the law in restitution. Numbers 5:5-7
requires that full restitution plus 20 percent be returned.
9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too
is a descendant of Abraham.
Because of Jesus’ offer to stay with Zacchaeus, his acceptance of Jesus, and his change of
live, salvation has come to his entire household.
10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”
This brings to mind the three parables on finding what was lost that we had in this Cycle on
the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (lost sheep, lost coin, prodigal son) and the joy which
heaven celebrates when a repentant sinner returns.
Note: Where a Scripture text is underlined in the body of this discussion, it is recommended
that the reader look up and read that passage.
1st Reading - Wisdom 11:22-12:1
The Book of Wisdom, or Wisdom of Solomon as it is called in some translations of
the Bible, is believed to have been written in Greek, in Alexandria, around 50 B.C.. Although
the book itself claims that it was written by Solomon, it was in fact written some 870 years
later with the author, in order to highlight the importance of the work, using the prestige of
Solomon, the greatest of the wise men of Israel. This attribution to another is called
“pseudonimity” and was also used in the book of Ecclesiastes.
The author abominates any kind of polytheism and is proud to belong to a “holy and
blameless race.” The first part of the book (chapters 1 - 5) is prophetic in style and
somewhat Hebraic in the concepts it uses. It exhorts people to practice righteousness and
sincerely seek God. The second part (chapters 6 - 9) concentrates on the source of wisdom
and the need to obtain wisdom. The third part (chapters 10 - 19), from which our reading
today comes, speaks of the magnificence of wisdom as demonstrated by the history of the
chosen people. Today we hear that God spares men because He loves them.
22 Indeed, before you the whole universe is as a grain from a balance,
A grain is a tiny particle used for weighing in scales.
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.
He can be merciful too.
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, 12:1 for your imperishable
spirit is in all things!
This refers either to wisdom as the agent of God’s immanence or to the breath of life put in
creatures by God.
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!
God, whose power is irresistible and who is therefore free of constraint, loves the things
that His creative power has made, for only love can explain His having created and
preserved them. Because of His love, He pardons them and is patient in their regard so that
they might repent. God even gave the wicked Canaanites a chance to repent because they
too were men whom He had created.
2nd Reading - 2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2
Today we begin our study of Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians.
Accompanied by Silas, St. Paul arrived at Thessalonica in the course of his second
apostolic journey (A.D. 49-52) after leaving Philippi around the summer of the year 50.
Thessalonica, now known as Salonica, is situated on the Aegean Sea and was a
flourishing center of trade in St. Paul’s time. Founded in 315 B.C. by Cassander, who named
it after his wife, a sister of Alexander the Great, the city came under the Romans in 186 B.C..
As far as religion was concerned it was a typical pagan city. Archaeology has unearthed the
remains of many statues of gods and priestesses which give an idea of the religious
practices of the Thessalonians. Inscriptions discovered indicate that they were very
ignorant of religious truth and had no clear view of the survival of the soul after death.
There were quite a number of Jews living in Thessalonica. In keeping with his
custom, St. Paul went first to the synagogue to proclaim the good news: Jesus was the
messiah, the Old Testament prophecies had come true in Him, He had redeemed mankind
by His passion and resurrection. We know that he preached in the synagogue on three
successive Sabbaths (Acts 17:2) but he may have stayed there for as long as two months,
lodging in the house of Jason. As a result of his preaching many Jews and Gentiles came to
believe, including “not a few of the leading women” (Acts 17:4). His success earned him the
envy of certain Jews, who organized demonstrations and attacked Jason’s house, looking
for Paul and Silas. Not finding them, they brought Jason before the city authorities and he
had to go bail for the two apostles (Acts 17:5-9). This led to St. Paul and his companions
leaving the city in a hurry the same night – going first to Beroea (Acts 17:10) and later to
Athens (Acts 17:15).
Paul’s unexpected departure from Thessalonica meant that the instruction of the
recent converts was cut short; also their situation became difficult due to persecution by
the Jews. This led the apostle to send Timothy to confirm them in the faith (1 Thessalonians
3:1-2) and bring back news of them.
Timothy caught up with Paul in Corinth and gave him a good report of the
Thessalonians: they were persevering in faith and charity, despite still being harassed.
Timothy also reported that certain questions were troubling the Thessalonians – things to
do with life after death, and the second coming.
The apostle wrote the first letter, which he sent via Timothy, to complete his
interrupted preaching and teaching. It had the effect of reassuring the Thessalonians about
the fate of those who had already died in the Lord. However, some did not understand him
correctly; some so misunderstood him in fact that they began to give up working (2
Thessalonians 3:11). When Paul heard of this he wrote the second letter to clear up the
misunderstanding.
11 [ ] [W]e 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,
Moral fulfillment depends on God’s own power. It is His grace that will make the faithful
worthy of the Father’s call. Accordingly, this fulfillment will amount to mutual glorification
at the parousia of their intimate personal relationship to the Lord Jesus.
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. 2:1 We ask you, brothers, with regard
to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling with him,
The writer appeals for sober judgment about Christ’s triumphal coming, which he regards
not as a date, but as the fulfillment of Christian life.
“When the resurrection will be, he has not said: ‘It will come in due order’; he has said ‘and
our assembling with him.’ This point in quite important. Observe how Paul’s exhortation is
accompanied by praise and encouragement, for he makes it clear that Jesus and all the
saints will certainly appear at that time with us.” [Saint John Chrysostom (between A.D.
398-404), Homilies on the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians 3]
2 not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly,
Sort of a mania, if you would, about the coming of the end time.
or to be alarmed either by a “spirit,” or by an oral statement,
A charismatic gift of prophecy.
or by a letter allegedly from us
A forged letter. It is not clear that forged letters were actually circulating.
to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.
“Therefore, not to know the times is something different from moral decay and the love of
vice. For when the apostle Paul said ‘Don’t be shaken out of your minds suddenly or be
alarmed either by a spirit, or an oral statement, or a letter allegedly from us to the effect
that the day of the Lord is at hand,’ he obviously did not want them to believe those who
thought the coming of the Lord was already at hand. Neither, moreover, did he want them
to be like the wicked servant and say,’My Lord will not be coming for a long time,’ and
deliver themselves over to destruction by pride and immoral behavior. Thus Paul’s desire
that they should not listen to false rumors about the imminent approach of the last day was
consistent with his wish that they should await the coming of their Lord fully prepared and
ready for the journey, with lamps burning.” [Saint Augustine of Hippo (ca. A.D. 418), Letters
199,1.2]
Gospel - Luke 19:1-10
As Jesus draws closer to Jerusalem and His passion, He continues to outrage the
Pharisees by associating with people whom the Pharisees consider less than worthy – the
poor, the afflicted, the sinners. Since to the Pharisees a man is known by the company he
keeps, Jesus surely cannot be from God because His associates don’t keep all the ritual
commandments. Today we hear the story of Zacchaeus the Publican.
19:1 He came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. 2 Now a man there
named Zacchaeus,
The name means “clean.”
who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man,
The tax collector received his funds from whatever “excess” tax he collected – over and
above what had been levied. Like other rich men, he was probably “attached” to his riches
as well.
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,
A short trunk and wide lateral branches made it easy to climb.
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.”
Today; the waiting is over. God’s salvation is not something to be considered sometime in
the future, it is already being inaugurated.
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.”
The generic “all” murmur against Jesus’ crossing the boundaries separating the “clean”
from the “unclean.”
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
There is controversy over these words being translated in the present tense – if one
interprets the tense as futuristic, then Zacchaeus is saying he is no longer a sinner – he
resolves to change his ways. If one views it as present tense, then Zacchaeus is arguing that
he is not a sinner because it is his customary conduct to be generous and just. In this case
Jesus, in verse 9, vindicates the good reputation of Zacchaeus. The futuristic interpretation
is preferred.
I shall repay it four times over.”
Zacchaeus goes way beyond the requirements of the law in restitution. Numbers 5:5-7
requires that full restitution plus 20 percent be returned.
9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too
is a descendant of Abraham.
Because of Jesus’ offer to stay with Zacchaeus, his acceptance of Jesus, and his change of
live, salvation has come to his entire household.
10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”
This brings to mind the three parables on finding what was lost that we had in this Cycle on
the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (lost sheep, lost coin, prodigal son) and the joy which
heaven celebrates when a repentant sinner returns.
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Picayune, MS
http://www.scborromeo.org
http://www.scborromeo.org
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)
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).
TO KNOW: 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. Jesus told Zacchaeus that he would be a guest at his house, and 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 to acquire more than he was entitled to receive, but he promised to make restitution for everything that he had gained by unjust means. He even went beyond what the law demanded by promising to give half of his earnings to the poor. Jesus told Zacchaeus that he was a true "son of Abraham," worthy to inherit God's promise of salvation.
TO LOVE: Am I willing to go "out on a limb" for my faith?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to set aside my pride so that I might come to you.
Sunday 3 November 2019
31st Sunday in Ordinary Time
St Gregory the Great
Wisdom 11:22 – 12:2. Psalm 144(145):1-2, 8-11, 13-14. 2
Thessalonians
I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God – Psalm
144(145):1-2, 8-11, 13-14.
‘For you love all things that are and loathe nothing that you
have made’
What a wonderful way to look at not just God’s creation, but
also the things that we ourselves create. The things we make, we should be
proud of and have reverence for and we should treat all creations with the same
love. God’s creation and humans’ are sacred and therefore not throwaway. In
this time when so much is seen as disposable (Oh, it’s broken, throw it out),
maybe we need to look at all creations large and small as sacred and created by
someone because it is something they love. Conversely, if people are making
things that they do not love (such as in sweatshops), how can we change that?
How can make creation a healing and loving activity?
Saint Martin de
Porres
Saint of the Day for
November 3
(December 9, 1579 –
November 3, 1639)
 |
| Saint Martin de Porres | St Dominic’s priory church in London | photo by Lawrence OP |
Saint Martin de Porres’ Story
“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 indigenous 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.
Martin 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, bi-location,
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.
Martin 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 Martin 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.
Reflection
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.
Saint Martin de Porres is the Patron Saint of:
African Americans
Barbers
Hairdressers
Race Relations
Radio
Social Justice
Barbers
Hairdressers
Race Relations
Radio
Social Justice
Lectio
Divina: 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time (C)
Lectio Divina
Sunday, November 3, 2019
The conversion of Zacchaeus
Luke 19:1-10
Luke 19:1-10
1. LECTIO
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:
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."
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 that
now we are going up to Jerusalem (Lk 18:31). It would seem that Luke
wishes to place everything within the context of following Christ;
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 whilst 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 whilst 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 aforementioned 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 tax
collectors, 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, who comes to us to seek out and save what was lost (Lk
19:10). This is a theme that is dear to Luke and we find it in other parts
of his Gospel as well (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 fulfillment 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.
4. CONTEMPLATIO
You will reveal the path of life to me,
and at Your right hand everlasting pleasures.
(Psalm 16:11)
and at Your right hand everlasting pleasures.
(Psalm 16:11)
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