16 Nov 2010, Tuesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1
Rv 3:1-6, 14-22

I, John, heard the Lord saying to me:
“To the angel of the Church in Sardis, write this:

“‘The one who has the seven spirits of God
and the seven stars says this: “I know your works,
that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
Be watchful and strengthen what is left, which is going to die,
for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.
Remember then how you accepted and heard; keep it, and repent.
If you are not watchful, I will come like a thief,
and you will never know at what hour I will come upon you.
However, you have a few people in Sardis
who have not soiled their garments;
they will walk with me dressed in white,
because they are worthy.

“‘The victor will thus be dressed in white,
and I will never erase his name from the book of life
but will acknowledge his name in the presence of my Father
and of his angels.

“‘Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

“To the angel of the Church in Laodicea, write this:

“‘The Amen, the faithful and true witness,
the source of God’s creation, says this:
“I know your works;
I know that you are neither cold nor hot.
I wish you were either cold or hot.
So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold,
I will spit you out of my mouth.
For you say, ‘I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,’
and yet do not realize that you are wretched,
pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich,
and white garments to put on
so that your shameful nakedness may not be exposed,
and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see.
Those whom I love, I reprove and chastise.
Be earnest, therefore, and repent.

“‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock.
If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,
then I will enter his house and dine with him,
and he with me.
I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne,
as I myself first won the victory
and sit with my Father on his throne.

“‘Whoever has ears ought to hear
what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Ps 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5
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.

Gospel
Lk 19:1-10

At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town.
Now a man there named Zacchaeus,
who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man,
was seeking to see who Jesus was;
but he could not see him because of the crowd,
for he was short in stature.
So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus,
who was about to pass that way.
When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said,
“Zacchaeus, come down quickly,
for today I must stay at your house.”
And he came down quickly and received him with joy.
When they saw this, they began to grumble, saying,
“He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.”
But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord,
“Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor,
and if I have extorted anything from anyone
I shall repay it four times over.”
And Jesus said to him,
“Today salvation has come to this house
because this man too is a descendant of Abraham.
For the Son of Man has come to seek
and to save what was lost.”

Meditation: Luke 19:1-10

“Today salvation has come to this house.” (Luke 19:9)

Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector in Jericho and a wealthy man, presumably because he extorted people. He had probably heard about Jesus and his miracles and teachings, and he was intrigued enough to climb a tree to get a good view as Jesus passed by. Maybe it was only curiosity on Zacchaeus’ part, or maybe he thought that this holy man could change him in some way. Whatever the case, this one action of Zacchaeus—climbing the tree—touched Jesus’ heart. Jesus looked up at him and offered to come to his house.

We often think of our relationship with Jesus as going in only one direction. We know that he can touch our hearts, and he often does. But how often have you thought that some act of faith or love on your part could move him? It may be something you don’t think is a very big deal. Perhaps you got up early one morning to attend daily Mass. Perhaps you said a rosary on your way to work. Maybe you spent extra time helping a sick neighbor or comforting an anxious friend. In all these ways, you were seeking out Jesus. And Jesus responds to us just as he did to Zacchaeus—with mercy and love.

Zacchaeus’ conversion was immediate, but surely in the days that followed, he needed to continue and deepen his conversion. Whatever way God first touched our lives, we too need to keep taking small steps each day toward Jesus, seeking him out and nurturing our friendship with him. Every day as we come to him in prayer, we can be assured that we will be welcomed as Zacchaeus was, even if we have sinned and need his forgiveness and mercy.

Today in prayer, imagine yourself as Zacchaeus in that tree. Look down into the face of Jesus as he speaks to you. Imagine his joy as he looks up at you and invites you to come to him. Think of how your small act of faith has touched his heart. Think of the joy you give him every time you turn to him. What joy it is to give joy to our Lord! May we, like this tax collector, be always willing and ready to seek him out.

“Jesus, I want to touch your heart. Here I am, ready to encounter you.”

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