DAILY- HOMILY

30 October 2016

31st SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Cycle C.  Green. 

Wis 11:22 – 12: 2 / 2 Thes 1: 11 – 2: 2 / Lk 19: 1 - 10

From the 1st Reading: Wis 11: 22 – 25 

For the entire world lies before you, just enough to tip the scales, a drop of morning dew falling on the ground.  But because you are almighty, you are merciful to all; you overlook sins and give your children time to repent.  You love everything that exists and hate nothing that you have made; had you hated anything, you would not have formed it. How could anything endure if you did not will it? And how could anything last that you had not willed?  You have compassion on all because all is yours, O Lord, lover of life.

From the 2nd Reading: 2 Tm 2: 8, 11 – 13

Remember Christ Jesus, risen from the dead, Jesus, son of David, as preached in my Gospel . . . 

This statement is true:  If we have died with him, we shall also live with him; if we endure with him, we shall reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; if we are unfaithful, he remains faithful for he cannot deny himself. 

From the Gospel  Reading: Lk 19:1, 5 - 10 

When Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the city, a man named Zaccheus was there. . . .When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zaccheus, come down quickly for I must stay at your house today."  So Zaccheus hurried down and received him joyfully.

All the people who saw it began to grumble and said, "He has gone to the house of a sinner as a guest."  But Zacheus spoke to Jesus, "The half of my goods, Lord, I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone I will pay him back four times as much."  Looking at him Jesus said, "Salvation has some to this house today, for he is a true son of Abraham. The Son of man has come to see and to save the lost."

Reflection

Tax collectors were frowned upon by society in the time of Jesus: a tax collector was synonymous to "an imposed suffering" to many, if not all, of the Jewish people. The tax collector Zaccheus must have been a typical tax collector, efficient and wealthy but despised by the people.  

For some reason Zaccheus wanted to see Jesus. Short in stature, he climbed a tree to await Jesus when he passed by. Jesus stops under the tree which Zaccheus had climbed and invites himself to be the guest of Zaccheus at his home.

The Gospel narrative shows us how Jesus was able to really read people.  While Zaccheus was despised as a typical tax collector, Jesus saw more in him: after all Zaccheus wanted to see Jesus and did the rather unusual means of climbing a tree to see him pass by.  

In gratitude to Jesus, Zaccheus promises to give half his goods to the poor and to re-pay generously anyone he may have defrauded.

From the encounter of Zaccheus with Jesus, we are encouraged to examine our own encounters with God.  We might see and value ourselves based on what society dictates: the standing of our family and pedigree; our education and background; our profession and "standing" in society. 

How would God value who we are? Or what we are?  Only when we see ourselves through the eyes and values of God that we have our true worth and value in life.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     Cristina Sison

     Benny G. Soliven

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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