31st Sunday in Ordinary time
…for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost. Luke 19: 10
Intro: God, our loving Father always seeks out those who feel lost, loves them, and welcomes them back into His presence, as today's Gospel illustrates. So we prepare to meet this ever-compassionate God in our Eucharist.
Readings: The writer of the Book of Wisdom reminds us of God's mercy and love.
Paul warns the Thessalonians not to become too excited about any rumours of Jesus' imminent return. Instead, he tells them, just concentrate and stay focused on their everyday calling or work.
Wisdom 11: 22 - 12: 2;
2Thessalonians 1: 11 - 2: 2;
Luke 19: 1 -10;
Some people will go to any length to see a famous person, standing for hours in a crowd, braving the wind and the rain, while others will climb trees, lamp posts or monuments and wait patiently for most of the day.
In today's Gospel we meet just such a character - Zacchaeus, a tax collector. His job meant that he became an outsider, part of the system of Roman oppression because collectors bought the franchise for collecting taxes from their Roman masters, and they were known for extorting larger amounts than actually required, in order to make a profit.
When Jesus invites Himself to Zacchaeus' house, everyone is surprised and horrified. They all mutter: perhaps this Jesus, whom they had thought was so wonderful is simply like all the rest - promise the earth, but actually do nothing, and cosy up to the rich and powerful at the first opportunity.
But Jesus can see what no one else can: Zacchaeus is ready to make a change in his life; the man who had become an outcast within his own community is ready to make restitution, not simply paying back the money he had creamed off, but four times the amount. Suddenly he's realised that what Jesus is offering is worth so much more than the money he has, which had failed to bring him happiness, fulfilment or peace of mind.
A journalist was watching Mother Teresa of Calcutta selecting children for an orphanage. She couldn't take them all, so he asked, "what are you going to do for the rest?" She looked him straight in the eye, and said, "What are you going to do?" The journalist changed: he gave up his job, and started raising funds for another orphanage!
What would need to change in our lives if Jesus were to come to our house? If He were to walk in for a meal today, what would He see?
Of course He has compassion, love and care for us ... but responding to this love with truth and honesty will often mean that we have to change too. Zacchaeus realised that he could trust and depend upon Jesus; he couldn't carry on as he was, damaging and hurting other people by forcing the sale of house or possessions in order to make up a tax demand or a heating bill. So rather than condemning him, Jesus welcomes him, and lights a spark in his heart.
It was the fact that Zacchaeus felt himself accepted by Jesus which enabled him to repent and change his life. We all tend to put human limits on God's love - we find it hard to believe that God can (and does) truly love us, just as we are, thinking that we have to repent before God will accept us. Rather the reverse: when we come to believe that we are accepted by God, and welcomed by God, that might enable us to repent.
So what do we need to change? Are we full of compassion and love, or do we have a tendency to judge and condemn? Are we open and welcoming, or would
we be like those in the crowd who muttered about Jesus mixing with the "wrong sort" of people?
We all know what our individual temptations are. Zacchaeus stepped out in faith; he believed that he would be welcomed by Jesus - warts and all - and that his good desires could be fulfilled and turned into good deeds.
Over the next few weeks, let's try to be ready to believe and respond to God's love by making a change in our own lives, by doing something positive in response to Jesus' call, perhaps by seeing the good points and qualities in others, rather than their bad ones!
Intercessions
Once we realise that God will always love us, no matter what we do or say, we can have more confidence in telling Him of our needs; and so we now ask:-
1. For the universal Church, under the guidance of our Holy Father, may She always be seen and recognised as a sign of compassion and forgiveness in today's world - Lord, hear us.
2. For governments and leaders. May they do everything in their power to promote a just, inclusive and welcoming society by recognising the rights of all their citizens - Lord, hear us.
3. Let us remember those who feel that they have no place in society, and hold out to them the welcome and hospitality of the Gospel message - Lord, hear us.
4. For ourselves. Like Zacchaeus, may we welcome Christ, and find strength through His presence to make the changes we need to in our lives - Lord, hear us.
5. May Michael Beaton, Chris Lyall, Margaret McGinley and Sadie Turk who have died in Your peace come to receive their eternal reward in Heaven, together with those who died about this time in past years: Vincent Callaghan, Helen Millar, Katy Bulpitt,Tommy Slaven, Bridget McFadden, Jimmy Smith, Andrew & Margaret Tait -
Lord, hear us
Lord, just as You changed the heart of Zacchaeus from greed to love, help us to live our own lives in the same generosity of spirit.