30-Oct-2007
Dear Friend,
There are some things that we want so badly that we are ready to take risks and
pay the price to have them. It might be something insignificant like seeing a
movie or a play, or concert, or having a newly-released book or computer
programme, but we feel we have to have it now. Do we desire to see God so much
that we are ready to take any risk or pay any price? Do we believe that God
himself desires to meet us? Are we open to encountering him? Have a weekend
hungering for God! Fr. Jude
Sunday Reflections: Thirty-first Sunday -Openness to God 4-Nov-07
Readings: Wisdom 11: 22-12:2; 2 Thessalonians 1: 11-2:2; Luke 19: 1-10
Today’s first reading, from the heart of the Book of Wisdom, written a century
before Christ points out that salvation doesn’t necessarily come primarily only
to those who are focused against sin, which is negative, but to those who are
open to God’s love, which is positive. It puts everything into proper
perspective. Before the Lord the whole universe is as a grain on a scale, very
small and insignificant, or as the morning dew. On the other hand God is
almighty and all powerful. Yet this mighty God cares and is concerned not only
about the universe but about each and every one of us and is merciful towards
us. He gently corrects us and leads us from evil back to him. How do we respond
to this great love? In the words of the psalmist we say: “I will bless your
name forever more.”
Cared for the least of his people
There were some eyebrows raised when John XXIII was elected pope. He was in his
seventies and there was no great hope that he was going to shake the Church.
One of the first things he did, however, made people sit up and notice. He went
in person to visit prisoners in one of Rome’s prisons. He met them as equals
and chatted informally with each. He even disclosed that he himself had a
relative in jail! The work and short pontificate of this man was going to open
many doors, and set many prisoners free.
Jack McArdle in ‘And that’s the Gospel Truth’
The first letter to the Thessalonians had taught that the Day of the Lord would
come like a thief and catch some people off guard. Now some people were
spreading the word that the final days were already there. This gave rise to
two sets of errors: One group said, don’t worry, live it up! The other group
gave way to despair since the time was up and nothing could be done. In the
second reading Paul exhorts the people not to be worried or afraid. He said in
so many words, ‘Leave the end to God and carry on with life. Pray constantly to
be worthy of His calling and carry on doing good. Leave the rest to God.’
Antidote to Worry
The only son of a mother had died on the war front. World War II was then
raging and matters had to be done. A neighbour was informed and requested to
convey the distressing news to the mother. The neighbour gathered a few friends
and went over to her house. She was on her hands and knees scrubbing the
kitchen floor. The man said quietly, “I have something very sad to tell you.”
Then he paused. “Bill has been killed in France.” The mother hesitated just for
a moment, then the brush continued going round and round. Finally she said,
“Well, all of you sit down, won’t you please? I’ll make you a cup of tea.” They
protested but she insisted. “Please,” she said. “I want to make you some tea! I
feel like doing it.” And she chatted while she boiled the water, brought out
some cakes, arranged the tea, and sat down with the callers. A long time after
the time of mourning was over, her neighbour said to her, “I’ve always admired
you
for the way you took the news of your boy’s death. But I have never been able
to understand it. “Well,” she said, “my grandmother once told me, ‘Whenever you
get distressing news, don’t stop your work. Continue with it. Whatever you are
supposed to be doing at that moment, you should do. The best antidote for worry
and anxiety is work.”
Francis Xavier in ‘The World’s Best Inspiring Stories’
The Gospel today shows us clearly the attitude of God towards sinners. Our God
is a God of life and he does not desire the death of the sinner but his
repentance and his coming back to Him. We see this attitude illustrated in how
Jesus treats Zacchaeus the tax collector. Although his profession would have
made him very rich, it made him the obvious target for the hatred of his fellow
Jews. Since he worked for the Romans he was considered a traitor by his own
people. Zacchaeus thus led a lonely and isolated life in spite of his wealth.
He had heard of Jesus and his reputation in dealing with prostitutes and
sinners. Zacchaeus hoped and wanted to see Jesus. He hears that Jesus is
passing that way but he is lost in the crowds and is too short to see Jesus.
But he grabs the opportunity of seeing him by climbing a sycamore tree to get a
glimpse of Jesus. Perhaps the crowds are amused by this short man, a
respectable tax collector who is perched on the tree.
But Jesus does not pass by without noticing his effort. He stops, looks up and
calls Zacchaeus by name. “Zacchaeus, come down! Hurry, because I must stay at
your home today!” Zacchaeus, cannot believe his ears, Jesus is coming to his
home and wants to stay with him! The impossible has become possible! The crowds
are enraged because Jesus has invited himself to the house of a sinner, a
tax-collector, a traitor and friend of the Romans. Jesus is not bothered by the
reaction of the crowd. He does not see the sins but he sees the sinner and
reaches out. Jesus’ attitude touches Zacchaeus and the man who had been
collecting riches all his life is now ready to give to others. He no longer
needs his riches, he has found Jesus. It is worthwhile noting that Jesus does
not demand repentance before entering into Zacchaeus’ home. Jesus overlooks the
wrong doing in the hope that he will repent. He gave Zacchaeus the opportunity
to change in the atmosphere of
unconditional acceptance. We change not because God forces us to change but
only when we experience His unconditional acceptance even in our sins. Jesus
does not say to us: “Change and I will love you” but, “I love you just as you
are!”
Turn the Bad Into the Good
For homework, I was required to make a drawing of a flight of stairs. I
finished it, and just as I was putting away the ink, a blot dropped right in
the middle of the picture. It was too late to draw another. I felt so
discouraged I burst into tears. My father hearing of the trouble, said gently.
“Don’t worry –the ink blot looks just like a black patch on the side of a
terrier –all you have to do is draw a dog around it.” I sketched a dog around
the ink blot. The next day, my picture was voted the best in the class. –Often
it only needs a little grit and imagination to turn the bad into the good.
Remember, a few things are as hopeless as they may seem at first.” When things
go wrong, I always remember the black-patched terrier. – God can change our
sinful moments into moments of grace and blessing if we let him into our lives.
Frank Michalic in ‘1000 Stories you can use’
“The story of Zacchaeus, the rich senior tax collector and his conversion
suggests some divine link between salvation and that which is lost? It is not
every day that a senior tax collector climbs a tree like a schoolboy in order
to see Jesus passing be, making a public show of himself while Jesus is
visiting Jericho! It is from his perch in the sycamore that the Lord’s grace
plucks Zacchaeus, with humour and gentleness: “Come down, hurry!” Zacchaeus
respond promptly to the divine impatience. He hears the words which do away
with his life as an outcast and fill him with joy: I must stay at your house
today. Today you too can become a son of Abraham! This ‘today’ of salvation
Jesus no doubt explained at length to Zacchaeus in his house, while the people
of Jericho complained outside. The offer of grace, the decision to accept it by
the obedience of faith, this is the ‘today’ of God and of mankind. –Glenstal
Bible Missal
“Losing and finding God”
The children of a very wealthy family were put in the care of a well-qualified
nanny, as well as a host of other servants the family employed. When adverse
circumstances impacted the family’s finances, they moved into a slightly
smaller home, but kept the family’s nanny. Eventually, however, the family’s
financial situation became severe enough that they had to let the beloved nanny
go. Then one evening after the father returned home from a day of great
financial anxiety and business worry, his little girl climbed up on his knees
and threw her arms around his neck. “I love you papa,” she said, trying to
soothe the weariness she intuitively perceived in him.”I love you too,
darling,” the father replied, glad to have such a warm welcome home. The little
girl then said, “Papa, will you make a promise?” The father said, “What is it?”
She said, “Papa, please promise me that you won’t get rich again. You never
came to see us when you
were rich, but now we can see you every night and hug you and kiss you and
climb on your knee. Please don’t get rich again! When this man was wealthy, his
family had lost him, when he lost his wealth, his family found him. –In today’s
gospel we have a similar story: when Zacchaeus was wealthy, he had lost his
God, but when he parted with his wealth, he found his God.
John Rose in ‘John’s Sunday Homilies’
May we seek God and find him in all things and in all people!
Fr. Jude Botelho
www.netforlife.net
PS. The stories, incidents and anecdotes used in the reflections have been
collected over the years from books as well as from sources over the net and
from e-mails received. Every effort is made to acknowledge authors whenever
possible. If you send in stories or illustrations I would be grateful if you
could quote the source as well so that they can be acknowledged if used in
these reflections. These reflections are also available on my web site
www.netforlife.net Thank you.
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