31st Sunday in
Ordinary Time
Cycle C
November 3, 2013 10:30
and 12:00 noon
Saint
Margaret Parish, Bel Air
A Favorite Story
Today’s
gospel story is always one of the favorites for children.
This
short man named Zacchaeus is easy for children to identify with. His climbing a tree to see Jesus always
captures their imagination.
But I
believe this story also has a lot to say to us adults. I see a number of important messages here.
1. Fill Emptiness
First,
Zacchaeus knows that something is missing in his life.
He has
a good job, he wealthy and he is living comfortably. But Zacchaeus feels an emptiness within
himself, a gap, something missing.
And,
with this awareness, he wants to see Jesus.
I often hear persons say – “There’s
something missing in my life.”
When we
feel that, we need try to fill the emptiness.
And like Zacchaeus, the way to fill this is not with more money or
alcohol or a better lifestyle, but with a person – with God, with Jesus.
This is
the only way to fill our inner, spiritual emptiness. It works for Zacchaeus and it can work for us
too.
2. Reach Out
The
next message I see is that Jesus reaches out to Zacchaeus.
Jesus
knows his name and he must also have known that Zacchaeus is unethical and
despised by his fellow citizens. But
Jesus reaches out to him.
Jesus
even goes to his home to have dinner with him.
And most significantly, he doesn’t first ask Zacchaeus to repent or
confess his sins or change his ways.
Jesus
first has a relationship, communion with Zacchaeus. This is what brings Zacchaeus to life and
conversion, instead of being a reward for conversion.
I see
this as one of the themes Pope Francis is modeling for us. We as a Church are to welcome and include and
have people here rather than stand above and exclude people.
It is
the most effective way for human and spiritual growth. And, of course, we as individuals are also to
embrace this way in our personal lives.
3. Be With
Then I notice that Jesus does not reprimand Zacchaeus.
Jesus does not put him down or give a long moralizing
sermon. He is just there, with him, and
the results are wonderful.
This is what our Sacrament of Reconciliation is to be
like. The priest – in the role of Jesus
– is not to judge and condemn and put down.
Instead, the priest is to be with the person as a fellow
sinner on the human journey. It is in this
prayerful, faith relationship that spiritual growth can respectfully take
place.
4. Change
Lifestyle
And then, what quickly follows from Jesus’ approach is
that Zacchaeus changes his life.
Jesus doesn’t ask him to do anything specific. Zacchaeus just knows that if he is going to
be in relationship with Jesus, he’s got to share his wealth with the poor and
make restitution to anyone he has ripped off.
This is again a good approach to the Sacrament of
Reconciliation. The penance – the action
that follows the sacrament should just flow from our renewed relationship with
the Lord.
So maybe it is praying or coming to Mass regularly or
patching up a relationship or not going to certain Internet sites. And, by the way, actions like these, ways of
living out our relationship with God can also happen outside the Sacrament of
Reconciliation in everyday life.
5. Recognize
Goodness
The last message I want to note is that Jesus recognizes
Zacchaeus’ basic goodness.
The other people all say that Zacchaeus is a sinner. On this, Jesus agrees.
They also say that he is no good at all and is not worthy
to be around. And on this, Jesus
disagrees.
No question, Zacchaeus has done some bad things. But to say that he is a bad person is
impossible for Jesus because he knows that there is a basic goodness in
everyone that no one can take away.
It is this positive good in Zacchaeus that Jesus awakens
and calls forth. Jesus does the same for
us and wants us to do the same for one another.
Conclusion
So, today’s is a favorite story for children, but it is
also an adult story – loaded with messages for us!
