TUESDAY, THIRTY THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Rv 3: 1-6, 14-22 Ps 15: 2-5 Lk 19: 1-10
THE NEED FOR GOD IN OUR LIFE
The first reading is a message to the Church of Sardis. It is a wake-up call to a Church that was indifferent. Sardis was the capital of Lydia, and one of the greatest cities of the world. It had everything, and trusted on its own strength and failed to see the working of God and the need of God in its life. This had resulted in its spiritual death.
In the gospel passage today, we see the encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus unfold as a profound illustration of mercy and transformation. Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector despised by his community, represents the sidelined and the sinner. His curiosity to see Jesus leads him to climb a sycamore tree, symbolizing the climb to seek truth and redemption. This act of climbing also reflects a desire to rise above social judgment and personal shame. When Jesus calls Zacchaeus by name, it signifies a personal invitation and recognition of his worth, despite his past. The phrase “I must stay at your house today” reveals the urgency and necessity of Jesus’ mission to reach out to the lost. This moment is not merely a social visit rather a transformative encounter bringing salvation to Zacchaeus and his household. The crowd’s murmuring highlights the tension between social norms and the radical inclusivity of Jesus’ message.
Zacchaeus’ response shows the fruits of true repentance. This narrative summarizes the essence of Jesus’ ministry: “For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost” (Lk 19:10). It serves as a reminder that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace, and that genuine encounters with Christ can lead to profound personal and communal transformation. The story of Zacchaeus invites all to reflect on their own openness to divine mercy and the call to live out that mercy in their lives.
Response: The one who conquers,
I will grant him to sit with me on my throne.
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