Saving Grace

   

  Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

30 October 2022 

 

First Reading: Wis 11:22-12:2

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14

Second Reading: 2 Thes 1:11-2:2

Gospel: Lk 19:1-10

 

Reflection

By: Theresa Ballo-Manio

 

We are all like Zaccheaus at one point in our lives. Sometimes life drifts us apart from the straight road. We do sinful ways because we become impulsive to act to our desires, histories, and self-preservation. There are also times when sin creates a feeling of home, an illusion that we are not and will never be alone. We fall into temptations. There are also times when we rationalize sin for good intentions like stealing and lying to feed a family, killing a killer, or saying it was just part of my job or what I was raised to. In spite of these sinfulness and shortcomings, there’s the small voice that echoes within us telling us the truth. The truth that says we want to be good, we long to repent, and we wish to feel God’s attention and favor in us once again. Like Zaccheus, we crave for Jesus’ attention and forgiveness. He climbed a tree and called out to Jesus. What Jesus did, he stopped, looked at him, asked him to go down and stayed in his house even though this was not actually part of his planned itinerary. 

That’s how Jesus responds when we show interest in Him, no matter how small and how sinful we are. He goes out of His way for us. He draws us closer to him. He offers to listen, dine with us, and  have a personal encounter with us. This kind of love and attention changed Zaccheaus. Same with us, when we feel God’s presence in our lives, the more we strive to be good, to offer whatever we have in obedience and in the service of Him. 

Moreso, we can be like Jesus too in every Zaccheaus we meet in our lives. Let us not focus on the sin but on the sinner. We are invited to listen and see each person  as needing love and attention – this changes people. In this way, we get trust in return. Then we can now go towards helping the person correct his mistakes and turn away from sinful habits and ways. Zaccheaus changed his mind about the importance of money and told Jesus that he will now give rather than just receive. Indeed, true repentance is a change of thought that results in a change of action. 

The Gospel today contains a promise to all of us, that anyone, even sinners desire to see Jesus' will. More than that, Jesus sees us and in this way he will make our joy complete. 

Prayer

Lord, God, You showed as saving grace through Zaccheaus' conversion. Help me to be generous, so that they will see how wonderful it is to follow You! Help me become more aware that I am in Your loving presence at all times and in all places. Help me to see the helpful generosity  in me and in every person that I meet, and this includes those whom I may find difficult. Amen.

Come and See Jesus!

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time 03 November 2019
First reading Wisdom 11:22-12:2

In your sight, Lord, the whole world is like a grain of dust that tips the scales, like a drop of morning dew falling on the ground. Yet you are merciful to all, because you can do all things and overlook men’s sins so that they can repent. Yes, you love all that exists, you hold nothing of what made in abhorrence, for had you hated anything, you would not have formed it. And how, had you not willed it, could a thing persist, how be conserved if not called forth by you? You spare all things because all things are yours, Lord, lover of life, you whose imperishable sprit is in all. Little by little, therefore, you correct those who offend, you admonish and remind them of how they have sinned so that they may abstain from evil and trust in you Lord.

Second reading                                                          2 Thessalonians 1:11–2:2

We always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfill by his power every good resolve and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here.

Gospel                                                                          Luke 19:1-10

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”

Reflection

By Anabelle P. Balla

“Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus.”

Jesus, allow us to be in your presence and see your face.

What is your favorite picture of Jesus?

How do you imagine His face when you talk to Him in prayers?

What do you see in His eyes when He looks at you?

Deep within, I can feel eagerness to see the face of Jesus, to talk to Him. My heart yearns to be with Him, to be in His presence. I set aside time to pray every day, in the morning and in the evening. However, I often caught myself distracted, losing the intimacy of prayers. I can’t seem to reach deep enough into my soul to experience that same feeling of complete peace and overwhelming wonder. I am unable to fully focus and be truly present - mind, body and soul, when talking to the Lord. Something is missing. There’s just too many clutter in my mind, I get distracted with so many things. I seem to be always “running” out of time for prayers, I hurry and most of the time, have to do multi-tasking. Doing or thinking of something while praying.

But I know I can change this. I can choose and decide to make quality time with God. If I can make time to browse Facebook or watch Netflix then I should be able to spend uninterrupted time for praying. I have to set the place and the time. Take a deep breath and prepare myself each time before drawing close to the presence of our Almighty and ever loving God. I have to let my family know as well so they will respect that time and maybe even join me, aside from our prayer time at night.

Prayer

Father, we want to see Jesus. Help us to really see His face and experience His presence in our life, everyday! In His mighty name, we pray.  Amen.