Thirty-First Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year C, By Rev. Fr. Lucas Binnah Junior, C.S.Sp

First Reading: Wisdom 11:22-12:2/Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 45:1-2.8-9.10-11.13cd-14 (R. 1) Second Reading: II Thessalonians 1:11-2:2/Gospel Acclamation: Jn. 3:16/Gospel:Luke 19:1-10

THEME: BREAK BOUNDARIES!

We are created by, in and for love. Hence, in the first reading, the Book of Wisdom speaks of the loving heart of God, the Creator. He says: “But you are merciful to all, for you can do all things, and you overlook men’s sins, that they may repent. For you love all things that exist, and you loathe none of the things which you have made, for you would not have made anything if you had hated it” (Wis. 11:23-24). God is gentle with and merciful to us because he loves us deeply. The Psalmist is conscious of this character of God and therefore sings: “The Lord is kind and full of compassion, slow to anger, abounding in mercy. How good is the Lord to all, compassionate to all his creatures” (Ps. 145:8-9). Be that as it may, we need not take his gentleness and mercy for granted. It must change us. We read thus: “Therefore, you correct little by little those who trespass, and remind and warn them of the things wherein they sin, that they may be freed from wickedness and put their trust in you, O Lord (Wis. 12:2). So, two things are key. One, we need to have the desire to seek God with a sincere heart; and two, we should be willing to turn on a new leaf that will bring positive change in our life, family, institution, society and the world.

In the light of the aforementioned, today’s Gospel tells the story of Zacchaeus to highlight the limitless, boundless and ever-reaching love of God. It is a drama that reveals both the hearts of God who is Love Subsistence, and that of the human person who is made in and for love. Again, it really demonstrates that it is quite possible for those who are themselves loved to love others too! Many people find themselves in the ‘Jericho’ of life, the place of serious burdens and bondages, the path that fills them with misery as they are ‘stripped,’ ‘robbed,’ ‘beaten’ and ‘bruised’ – half dead – by the vicissitudes of life as well as self-inflicted problems (cf. Lk. 10:25-37). Zacchaeus, a very rich chief tax collector, finds himself on this ‘Jericho’ path. He was rich, but never satisfied. He had all he needed but knew no peace! Spiritually and socially, he alienated himself from God and other people obviously because he cheated others with taxes. This severed the cord of relationship on both vertical (with God) and horizontal (with fellow humans) levels, and his fellow Jews despised and considered him as a public sinner, worse than a pagan! Physically too, although some exegetes say he was dwarfed by his sins, his small stature was a challenge for he was short! (Lk. 19:3).

These conditions put Zacchaeus in the ‘Jericho’ terrain. Yet, unlike others who would stay put in the ‘Jericho’ of their lives, in their comfort zones, Zacchaeus boldly stepped out in faith in search of the salvation which would bring him purpose and fulfilment. This confirms the fact that, even at our lowest ebb, in the deepest and darkest pit – in the ‘Jericho’ of life – succour could be found. Just as the Good Samaritan appeared on the scene to rescue the half-dead traveller on the road to Jericho, so also did Jesus come the way of Zacchaeus to offer him salvation! When we are down to nothing, God is up to something, and amazing grace will appear! Even now, Jesus remains the answer on our faith journey. He is the Saviour, for that is what his name means (cf. Mt. 1:21)!

Apart from stepping out in boldness and expressing his belief in Jesus, there are other strategic things we can learn from Zacchaeus. The first thing is that, we should not allow boundaries to limit us. Many boundaries abound in life – spiritual, physical, economic, financial, educational, health, social, human, etc. Rather than seeing them as stumbling blocks, we should turn them into stepping stones. Zacchaeus climbed the sycamore tree to overcome his difficulty in seeing Jesus because of his shortness (cf. Lk. 19:4.). By the way, it is rare for rich men and prominent leaders to climb trees. Yet, Zacchaeus did not allow his wealth and position as chief tax collector (who had subordinate tax collectors) to derail him. In a related development, St. Paul in the second reading tells the Thessalonians not to allow false teachings of false prophets to serve as a boundary to limit their faith. Rather, they are to stay focussed on their goal, namely, Jesus. We read thus: “…We beg you, brethren, not to be quickly shaken in mind or excited, either by spirit or by word, or by letter purporting to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come” (II Thess. 2:1- 2). Though very common, human boundaries need to be defeated if we must welcome salvation!

Furthermore, Zacchaeus made efforts to find Jesus where Jesus could be found. Repentance and radical conversion are inseparable processes which begin at a point, from somewhere. Deep within his heart, Zacchaeus was upset with his past wayward life. He was ready to allow positive changes, and willing to make amends. This burning desire to repent was put into action whereby he looked for a saviour. His desire was met by Jesus. He did not solve his problem with drugs or suicide; neither did he brush the idea aside by the wave of his hand. Instead, he made a journey to his heart and listened to the voice of God in his conscience entreating him to repent. He neither stayed at home nor went to the place where he will not find Jesus. Rather, he strategically positioned himself and searched for Jesus by the roadside and open spaces and by the sea side – common places where Jesus always did his ministry, and behold, Jesus revealed himself to him! So, where will, can and should we also find Jesus? Do we listen to the voice of conscience, our inner sanctuary? Are we ready to attend church to hear God speak to us? Do we try to see his face by reading the Bible? Do we make conscious efforts to meet regularly with other believers who undertake the Christian trip?

Additionally, Zacchaeus teaches us that repentance and conversion should be radical and urgent if we are to be saved from the ‘Jericho’ of life. Feeling contrite, he expressed his compunction to a logical conclusion through restitution. The Jewish law required an additional 20% restitution (cf. Num. 5:5-7), but Zacchaeus went beyond the threshold to make it 400% (to add 300%). Surely, Zacchaeus was not a man of only words but action! He was radical in his repentance. He said: “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold” (Lk. 19:8). If anyone has stolen what belongs to others and the state, especially, when the stolen things still remain with the thief, justice and true repentance demand a return of such stolen items to the rightful owners even with compensation as penance! This is radical conversion, and it is this disposition which will rescue us from ‘Jericho’ situations

Also, Zacchaeus never missed his opportunity to be saved. Opportunity comes but once! When he heard that Jesus had entered Jericho and was passing through it, he left his comfort zone to look for Jesus. He spared no chance nor wasted time in approaching Jesus. Sometimes, we stubbornly refuse to look for Jesus by certain choices we make. We do not attend church to hear God’s word preached to us and to share our faith with the community of believers. We do not create time to pray and study God’s Word by which we come into close contact with him. We end up getting confused, frustrated and perverse in life because we banish God from our lives. Even at this, we should believe that it is God himself who takes the initiative first to find us. So, when we find God, it is he who has revealed himself to us. Thus, we read: “And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today’…For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost” (Lk. 19:5, 10). Jesus knew Zacchaeus by name, and he knows us also. He looks for us, but would we allow him to find us?

Also, when Jesus visited Zacchaeus, the latter played a hospitable host to his guest: “So, he [Zacchaeus] made haste and came down, and received him [Jesus] joyfully” (Lk. 19:6). Many of us do not play good hosts to the most important guest in our life, God! God comes to us in various ways and forms, yet we close the doors of our life to him. Our reception of him is either non-existent or poor! At best, it is a cold welcome! We are so busy we rush in praying and reading his word. We are in haste to leave church and other religious obligations. We are half-hearted when it comes to serving others – our family, society, country, the poor and the needy (cf. Mt. 25:35-46) – in whatever capacity we find ourselves – as parents, priests, politicians, legislators, judges, teachers, health workers, farmers, etc. We must learn to be happy staying with Jesus and enjoy his loving presence. We ought to create time for him by interspersing our daily lives with moments of prayer, meditation, praises, hymns and silence in a bid to invite and welcome him into our lives. Beloved in Christ, let us believe that “The Lord supports all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down” (Ps. 145:14). Let us get ready to break the boundaries which impede our salvation. Remaining in our comfort zone will not solve the problem; doing drugs or committing suicide too not good options! God is with us and he loves us so deeply. He can heal and restore us as he did to Zacchaeus. Happy Sunday and may God richly bless us! Remember to: #Break-Boundaries#