Reading 1 Rv 3:1-6, 14-22

Responsorial Psalm Ps 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5

Gospel Lk 19:1-10

Zaccheus was a rich and dishonest tax collector. He was visited by Christ and the encounter caused a radical change. Zaccheus experienced the mercy and forgiveness of Christ.

God calls us to enter into communion with Him. The call is for everybody to witness His glory and to humble ourselves before Him. We are invited to walk towards God, to clean our hearts as we fix our eyes on Him. To respond to the call requires an awareness of our sins,
defects and weaknesses, such that we meet God when He grants His mercy
for us sinners.

Conversion brings about in us an experience similar to Zaccheus, from a repentant attitude, to a change in heart, and a change in how we conduct ourselves with others. Salvation comes to our house when we welcome Jesus Christ.

Charity Knows No Bounds

by Food For Thought on November 20, 2012 ·

Reading 1 Rv 3:1-6, 14-22

Responsorial Psalm Ps 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5

Gospel Lk 19:1-10

Zaccheus was a rich and dishonest tax collector. He was visited by Christ and the encounter caused a radical change. Zaccheus experienced the mercy and forgiveness of Christ.

One Bread, One Body

<< Tuesday, November 20, 2012 >>

Revelation 3:1-6, 14-22
View Readings

Psalm 15:2-5

Luke 19:1-10

MAKE LIKE A TREE

"He was trying to see what Jesus was like, but being small of stature, was unable to do so because of the crowd." —Luke 19:3

Zacchaeus was small of stature. Many people of all sizes, however, are small-hearted, petty, little people. They have trouble seeing Jesus, for they have trouble seeing beyond themselves.

Zacchaeus was unable to see Jesus because of the crowd (Lk 19:3). Greed, pride, hypocrisy, and lukewarmness (Rv 3:16) can crowd us out of seeing Jesus.

Zacchaeus overcame his smallness and the crowd by climbing a tree (Lk 19:4). Be like a tree upon which people can climb to rise above their smallness and the obstructions of the crowd.

The Lord says we become "like a tree" when we delight "in the law of the Lord" and meditate "on His law day and night" (Ps 1:2, 3). The person who loves and lives God's word is like a tree — the tree of life (see Gn 2:9), the tree that Jesus died on (Acts 13:29).

The poet Joyce Kilmer wrote: "Only God can make a tree." Only God can make us like trees which can give the Zacchaeuses of the world the opportunity to see the Savior. Make "like a tree planted near running water, that yields its fruit in due season" (Ps 1:3).

Prayer: Father, may I never be part of the lukewarm crowd (see Rv 3:16) obstructing others from seeing Jesus.

Promise: "The Son of Man has come to search out and save what was lost." —Lk 19:10

Praise: Jesus healed Maria of chronic sinus problems.