Reflection for October 30, 2022

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Wisdom 11:22-12:2 | Psalm 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14| 2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2 | Luke 19:1-10

​The readings today all have within them the idea of mercy and living in a way that honors the Lord.

Dr. Reginald, a well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a ‎₱1000 bill. In the room of 200, he asked. "Who would like this ‎₱1000 bill?" Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this ‎₱1000 bill to one of you - but first, let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the ‎₱1000 note up. He then asked. "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air. "Well," he replied, "what if I do this?" He dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air. "My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth ‎₱1000. 

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way but God overlooks our sins and gives us time to repent. God is a God of mercy. He loves everything that exists and hates nothing that he has made. The first reading from Wisdom tells us of God's mercy upon us, all his creatures. God is merciful because all things were created by God. He wants to preserve us all because the name of God is mercy. Love. Forgiveness. It's the very nature of God. 

Once upon a time a heartless hunter shot a beautiful mother eagle. A hen, full of compassion took the eagle’s egg from its nest and put it with her own eggs. When the egg hatched the farmer who owns the hen named the baby eagle Chikita and treated her as he treated all baby chickens. As she was growing Chikita just assumed that she was a chicken like the others. One day Chikita saw some birds flying high in the sky. How Chikita envied those birds in the sky! She so much wished she could fly like they did. Unfortunately, no one told her that she was an eagle and could fly high up into the heavens. Then one day a stranger came into the barnyard, caught sight of Chikita and instantly recognized what she was, an eaglet — not a chick. He took her out into a nearby field and began to make her hop from his finger onto the ground. Gradually he increased the height of her perch on his hand. When he thought she was ready he threw his arm up high so she would fly. And she did. Oh, how she flew, wheeling and soaring in the bright, blue sky! Then she circled around the stranger’s head, and giving him a screeching cry, flew off into the sky above!

Germans have a saying, “Werde, was du bist” (Become what you are). The apostle Paul, in his Second letter to the the Thessalonians, tells us: “Live in a manner worthy of the call you have received.” Though they had done nothing to earn the position they had as believers in Christ, they had a responsibility to live lives that reflect positively on the One who had given them that position. Paul knew they were in the midst of persecution and wanted to encourage them to keep fighting the good fight. He understood that when you’re constantly being hammered, a word of encouragement can do wonders. So he reminded them that he continued to pray for them. Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians was twofold: that God would enable them to live a life worthy of God’s call, and that He would give them the power to do what their faith leads them to do. A person who has truly received the gift of forgiveness and new life from Jesus will necessarily change the way they live. The way we live and the choices we make matter. We are to live in a way that honors the Lord, that reflects positively on Him. We want to honor the One who has given us so much.We will not do this perfectly, but we will make progress over time.

A mother once approached the tyrant emperor Napoleon Bonaparte of France, seeking pardon for her son. The emperor replied that the young man had committed theft twice, and justice demanded death. “But I don’t ask for justice,” the mother explained. “I beg for mercy.” “But your son does not deserve mercy,” the tyrant emperor replied. “Sir,” the woman cried, “it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for.” “Well, then,” Napoleon said, “I will have mercy.” And he spared the woman’s son.

Mercy is God not punishing us as our sins deserve. It is something that is only freely given, a gift.  In today's Gospel, we hear the story of a tax collector who changed his ways after his encounter with Jesus. He is found by Jesus. Jesus goes to him because of his mercy. Zacchaeus probably became rich by cheating people, something tax collectors were known for in those days. But he had a change of heart. He sees Jesus, the Master, and he becomes a new man. The crowd didn't like it. They needed new hearts, too, but they didn't want to admit it. In order to receive the gift of knowing Jesus in our lives we must be willing to admit our sinful ways and our need for a relationship with Jesus. Zacchaeus says he is sorry and promises to change his behavior. He gives away much of his wealth and promises to repay four times over anyone he has cheated (Exodus 22:1; Leviticus 6:5; Numbers 5: 6-7). He has changed! Jesus says, "Today salvation has come to this house". When we have sinned, we can be like Zacchaeus. We can turn back to God and promise to sin no more.  We, too, are called by God: called to “hurry and come down” of our Sycamores and seek Jesus daily with repentant hearts. 

Lord, your mercy is so great. You surprise us with your love for us who don’t feel worthy of it. I often feel like Zacchaeus, making huge efforts to catch a glimpse of you, only to find that you are waiting for me, calling me by name, inviting yourself into my heart. Have mercy on me and change my heart so that as I receive your love and forgiveness always, may I also extend it to others in your name. Amen. <enrique,ofs>