Tuesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
I Must Stay In Your House
Other Celebrations for this Day:
Liturgical Cycle: A | Lectionary Cycle: II
Introduction
Year II. John reprimands the Christians of Sardis and Laodicea that they have abandoned their earlier fervor and are in need of conversion. Note the harsh words to the Laodiceans who are neither cold nor hot but only lukewarm: “I will spit you out of my mouth.”
Gospel. Today we meet Zacchaeus, the rich typical sinner as a tax collector, who is small and poor as a person. He runs to encounter Jesus and is converted through this encounter, but it is really Jesus who takes the initiative by calling Zacchaeus out of the tree and asking whether he can stay in his house. This is the solution for the sinner, cold or lukewarm: accept to encounter the Lord again. This message is spoken to us too. Encountering Jesus will change us too.
Opening Prayer
God of mercy and compassion,
you know how often our fervor cools off,
how poor of heart we are at times
when we think we are rich
and sure to belong to you.
Let us encounter your Son again
in the deepest of our selves,
help us to look for him,
that his presence may change us
and that he may live among us.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
First Reading
To the Church of Sardis
Write this to the angel of the church in Sardis, “Thus says he who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your worth: you think you live, but you are dead.
Wake up, and strengthen that which is not already dead. For I have found your works to be imperfect in the sight of my God.
Remember what you were taught; keep it, and change your ways. If you do not repent, I will come upon you like a thief, at an hour you least expect.
Yet, there are some left in Sardis who have not soiled their robes; these will come with me, dressed in white, since they deserve it.
The victor will be dressed in white, and I will never erase his name from the book of life; instead, I will acknowledge it before my Father and his angels.
Let anyone who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.”
To the Church of Laodicea
Write this to the angel of the church in Laodicea, “Thus says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation:
I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot!
You are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold; so I will spit you out of my mouth.
You think you are rich and have piled up so much that you need nothing, but you do not realize that you are wretched, and to be pitied; poor, blind, and naked.
I advise you to buy from me gold that has been tested by fire, so that you may be rich, and white clothes to wear, so that your nakedness may not shame you; and ointment for your eyes, that you may see.
I reprimand and correct all those I love. Be earnest, and change your ways.
Look, I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my call and open the door, I will come in to you and have supper with you, and you with me.
I will let the victor sit with me, on my throne, just as I was victorious, and took my place with my Father on his throne.
Let anyone who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Responsorial Psalm
R. (Rev. 3: 21) I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
He who walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
R. I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
By whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD.
R. I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
shall never be disturbed.
R. I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God loved us, and sent his Son
as expiation for our sins.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it.
A man named Zacchaeus lived there. He was a tax collector and a wealthy man.
He wanted to see what Jesus was like, but he was short and couldn’t see over the crowd.
So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree. From there, he could see Jesus as he passed by.
When Jesus reached that spot, he looked up and said to him:
“Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for I must stay at your house today.”
So Zacchaeus climbed down and welcomed him happily.
All the people who saw it began to grumble and said:
“He has gone as a guest to the house of a sinner.”
But Zaccheus spoke to Jesus:
“Half of what I own, Lord, I will 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 come to this house today, for he is also a true son of Abraham.
The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”
Prayers of the Faithful
– That we may do all we can to see and find the Lord and to be close to him, we pray:
– That our encounter with the Lord in prayer, in good people and in the poor we help, may change us, we pray:
– That our eating from the Lord’s table in the eucharist may deepen our love for Christ and for people, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
God our Father,
your Son stands at the door and knocks
to share with us our bread of poverty.
May we open to him the doors of our hearts
and welcome him eagerly.
Let it be his bread and his mentality
that nourish us,
that we may overcome all evil
through him who is our Lord for ever.
Prayer after Communion
God our Father,
you have given us Jesus as our guest
and at the same time our host
who has given us himself to eat.
He has found us;
let him fill us to the brim
with his life and his love,
to make a new beginning with us.
Help us to be to one another
as hospitable as he has been to us
and let him stay with us.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
Blessing
May we hear from the Lord too: salvation has come to this house, to this person, this community. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIONS
There is mercy for those who have erred
Luke 19:1-10
In the Gospel of today, Jesus warns, "Publicans and prostitutes will overtake you in the Kingdom of Heaven" (Mt 21:31). Possibly, we Christians who pride ourselves on our rich tradition and faith, can learn something from Zacchaeus' story.
Today's Gospel introduces us to Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector of Jericho. Tax collectors were regarded as traitors to the homeland because they collaborated with the pagan powers to collect taxes for the Romans. Hence, they became “impure”. Luke paints a picture of this publican as wealthy, though short in stature and disliked by the people.
Zacchaeus' short stature was more a result of his feelings of inferiority, which prevented him from moving with the rest of the people. He was aware that the members of his community did not appreciate him and even hated him. Although he is a social outcast, Jesus welcomes him.
With Jesus, he no longer feels "short"! Instead of avoiding him, this new preacher - Jesus - chose to become a guest in his home and a companion at the table with him. Sharing food was considered to be a sign of sharing life in Jewish culture. For Zacchaeus, it was an overwhelming and transforming experience of grace. And there, he begins to re-plan his life.
The evangelist wishes to emphasize to his community that God does not exclude nor despise anyone. The grace and mercy of God recover such people. It is also when we are touched by Jesus' closeness that we become aware of our own injustices. The new behaviour of Zacchaeus indicates that he has acquired a new sense of meaning and sensibility.
God condemns sin, but the sinner is saved; He goes in search of him in order to bring him back. Jesus teaches Zacchaeus that gratuitous love is possible. He becomes capable of loving others when he encounters Love and discovers that he is loved regardless of his sins. In that process, he makes his wealth a symbol of solidarity and fellowship.
May the Virgin Mary obtain for us the grace always to feel Jesus’ merciful gaze upon us, to go with mercy towards those who have erred.