HOMILIES

Dear Audience,
For better understanding of the spiritual message behind this homily I kindly remind you to first read and contemplate the biblical texts before reading or listening to my preaching - a human reflection on the Word of God!

Thirty First Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year C)

Oct 30, 2016

2609

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First Reading

A reading from the Book of Wisdom (11:22-12:2)

Before the Lord the whole universe is as a grain on 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 sin 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 the 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!

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms of David (145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14)

(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)

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)

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)

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)

Second Reading

A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians (1:11-2:2)

Brothers and sisters: We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith, that the name of 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 letter allegedly from us to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Gospel

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (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."

(P) The Gospel of the Lord.
(R) Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

Today we hear one of the most interesting gospel stories. One day, while on His way to Jerusalem, Jesus was passing through a small town called Jericho. There Jesus met a man named Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was a tax collector for the Roman government. During the time of Jesus, the tax collectors were usually Jewish. They were despised and looked upon as the worst of sinners by most people because they often collected more than required and kept the extra for themselves. Zacchaeus would have been the most hated of all tax collectors, because he was the chief tax collector, and he was probably richer than the others.

As Jesus was heading his way, Zacchaeus, wanting to see who Jesus was, but being a short man not able to see above the crowd, ran ahead and climbed on a tree to get a glimpse of Jesus. This was hardly a dignified thing for one of the most prominent and richest men of the town of Jericho to do. He might have looked foolish that day, especially to a crowd that hated him, but that did not stop him. He had the desire to see Jesus more than anything or anyone else. So out of curiosity and like an excited child, he climbed a tree to have a good look at Jesus. Up on the tree he placed himself in the right position which led to Jesus' offer to stay in his house.

When Jesus passed by, He looked up towards the tree, and told Zacchaeus that He wanted to stay in his house that day. Zacchaeus hurried down the tree for he was more than happy to entertain Jesus in his home. However, the others, appalled and upset, started murmuring and grumbling about Jesus having an intimate conversation with a sinner and even offering to go and stay in his house that day. Although we do not know what Jesus said to Zacchaeus while they were in the house, we know the result of their interaction. Zacchaeus was changed completely. Amazed and overwhelmed perhaps with the kindness and presence of Jesus, Zacchaeus declared that he would give half of his money to the poor and repay the people fourfold if he had cheated anyone of them.

And Jesus seeing Zacchaeus' sincere remorse for his past life and his willingness to make restitution said, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham." That's to say, Zacchaeus, a Jew, a descendant of Abraham, considered a sinner, but because of his encounter with the Son of God and his genuine conversion, he became a true son of Abraham by faith. Luke concludes the story with Jesus saying that He had come to seek and save the lost.

Zacchaeus' story is also our story. We too can be just as guilty as Zacchaeus - selfish, greedy and dishonest. Our lust for money and material things might be harming our families, friends and people around us whether we are aware or unaware of it. We might be living a life of deception and pretense not just in terms of money but in other areas of life for which others despise and hate us for. Nonetheless let us not be disheartened or afraid. When we look for Jesus like Zacchaeus did, we too can be changed. If we, too, boldly take a step forward, disregarding pressure, embarrassment, ridicule, inconvenience, and hardship, to reach Jesus, He draws us to Himself regardless of what has happened in our past. He knows each one of us like He knew Zacchaeus. He really understands our suffering, needs and desire. Let us, therefore, go to places where Jesus "passes by" and eagerly wait for Him.

Particularly let us joyfully wait on Him at Holy Mass which is the soul of our faith. During Holy Mass Jesus manifests Himself in the scriptures, homilies, prayers, people, and most of all in the blessed bread and wine. When we are waiting to see Jesus, let us keep our ears open to listen to the voice of Jesus who will whisper to us that He wants to make His home not only in spirit but deep in our heart, Corinthians (6:17) and Timothy (4:22). Finally, when Christ is in us let us delightfully respond to Him without holding anything back, Colossians (1:27). When we do respond and promise Him to change our life or to live differently than we did before, our Lord Jesus fills us with abundant peace, joy and love.

(P) Amen.

God Bless You!

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