Readings for the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Wis 11:22-12:2
Wisdom tells us that God created all that is and has being and because his creation is loved by him, all things and people are loved. Implicit in that relationship, however, is the need for repentance by those who have sinned. In that repentance is salvation.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
This hymn of thanksgiving praises God for his mercy and reflects the same relationship as that described in the Wisdom reading above. God loves his creation and tries to conform all to his image. He punishes those who sin against him and gives support to the downtrodden.
Reading II 2 Thes 1:11-2:2
St. Paul concludes his introduction to his second letter by telling the Thessalonians that his prayer is that all may be worthy of the faith to which they were called and that their actions would bring Glory to God and Jesus, His Son. He begins the second chapter warning them not to be taken in by a false letter, purportedly from him (St. Paul) that said the Lord had already returned and the end times were upon them.
Gospel Lk 19:1-10
The story of Zacchaeus is another of the stories unique to the Gospel of St. Luke. The Tax Collector exemplifies the attitude the wealthy should take. Zacchaeus offers to give half of his possessions to the poor and to make amends four times over for any accounts he has wrongly settled. This action, the Lord tells those present, has earned him salvation.
Reflection:
Hearing the story of Zacchaeus we probably think “Boy, that’s really good advice for the wealthy.” That was the point the Lord was making with his comment to the Tax Collector, right? He undoubtedly spotted Zacchaeus in the tree and saw his fine cloths. Jesus may have turned to one of the crowd of people around him and asked “Who’s the rich guy in the tree?” (It probably sounds much more formal in Aramaic.). At any rate, he addressed him by name “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house."
We are a little taken aback by his presumption. This was not a question; it was an announcement, as if he could have made that demand of anyone present. But then he recognized that Zacchaeus was Hebrew and as such was under the obligation of hospitality.
The response from Zacchaeus was immediate. Not only did he accept the Lord’s statement eagerly, but he went further, announcing publicly that he was donating half of what he owned to the poor and anyone who he had wrongly charged, he would repay four times over (Tax collectors were not paid a salary, they were expected to take a portion of what they were paid and typically padded the tax bill excessively.).
Now back to that opening line – “Boy, that’s really good advice for the wealthy.” Scripture scholars do indeed say this was the group Jesus was addressing with this story. But we (I am now addressing myself and the audience I presume this reaches most frequently in the US, UK and Australia.), by the standards of the modern world are all wealthy. We do not have to beg in order to buy food; we do not depend upon others for survival as the poor in the Lord’s day did.
We are bound by the Lord’s injunction. We, today, hear the Lord addressing us – “… for today I must stay at your house." Again the Lord makes a statement, not a request. We are his disciples after all and we should, like Zacchaeus, be honored that he has chosen us. And what shall we tell the Lord? “Lord I am honored but I gave at the office.” Or “I’d love to have you over but I have other plans.”
The point the Lord makes in this story is that we, who have an abundance of the necessities, are to share with those who are in need. We cannot, in good conscience, sit back and make excuses. Even at our “tightest” we can still give of or time and effort in service to the poor or needy. And if we are uncomfortable thinking about that outward focus, look around us. Are their loved ones with whom we could share some time? Are there elderly that could use a visit (even parents or grand parents)? Could our children benefit from some quality time (giving up the football game or the movie would not be a terrible thing.)
No, today the call is not just to the wealthy. It is to each one of us. It is the call to love one another once more; to share what we have with those in need, be that material resources or time and effort. The Lord calls us by name today and tells us; today I must stay at your house. What is our response?
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used today is Zacchaeus in the Sycamore Tree by James Tissot, 1886-96
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Wis 11:22-12:2
Wisdom tells us that God created all that is and has being and because his creation is loved by him, all things and people are loved. Implicit in that relationship, however, is the need for repentance by those who have sinned. In that repentance is salvation.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
This hymn of thanksgiving praises God for his mercy and reflects the same relationship as that described in the Wisdom reading above. God loves his creation and tries to conform all to his image. He punishes those who sin against him and gives support to the downtrodden.
Reading II 2 Thes 1:11-2:2
St. Paul concludes his introduction to his second letter by telling the Thessalonians that his prayer is that all may be worthy of the faith to which they were called and that their actions would bring Glory to God and Jesus, His Son. He begins the second chapter warning them not to be taken in by a false letter, purportedly from him (St. Paul) that said the Lord had already returned and the end times were upon them.
Gospel Lk 19:1-10
The story of Zacchaeus is another of the stories unique to the Gospel of St. Luke. The Tax Collector exemplifies the attitude the wealthy should take. Zacchaeus offers to give half of his possessions to the poor and to make amends four times over for any accounts he has wrongly settled. This action, the Lord tells those present, has earned him salvation.
Reflection:
Hearing the story of Zacchaeus we probably think “Boy, that’s really good advice for the wealthy.” That was the point the Lord was making with his comment to the Tax Collector, right? He undoubtedly spotted Zacchaeus in the tree and saw his fine cloths. Jesus may have turned to one of the crowd of people around him and asked “Who’s the rich guy in the tree?” (It probably sounds much more formal in Aramaic.). At any rate, he addressed him by name “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house."
We are a little taken aback by his presumption. This was not a question; it was an announcement, as if he could have made that demand of anyone present. But then he recognized that Zacchaeus was Hebrew and as such was under the obligation of hospitality.
The response from Zacchaeus was immediate. Not only did he accept the Lord’s statement eagerly, but he went further, announcing publicly that he was donating half of what he owned to the poor and anyone who he had wrongly charged, he would repay four times over (Tax collectors were not paid a salary, they were expected to take a portion of what they were paid and typically padded the tax bill excessively.).
Now back to that opening line – “Boy, that’s really good advice for the wealthy.” Scripture scholars do indeed say this was the group Jesus was addressing with this story. But we (I am now addressing myself and the audience I presume this reaches most frequently in the US, UK and Australia.), by the standards of the modern world are all wealthy. We do not have to beg in order to buy food; we do not depend upon others for survival as the poor in the Lord’s day did.
We are bound by the Lord’s injunction. We, today, hear the Lord addressing us – “… for today I must stay at your house." Again the Lord makes a statement, not a request. We are his disciples after all and we should, like Zacchaeus, be honored that he has chosen us. And what shall we tell the Lord? “Lord I am honored but I gave at the office.” Or “I’d love to have you over but I have other plans.”
The point the Lord makes in this story is that we, who have an abundance of the necessities, are to share with those who are in need. We cannot, in good conscience, sit back and make excuses. Even at our “tightest” we can still give of or time and effort in service to the poor or needy. And if we are uncomfortable thinking about that outward focus, look around us. Are their loved ones with whom we could share some time? Are there elderly that could use a visit (even parents or grand parents)? Could our children benefit from some quality time (giving up the football game or the movie would not be a terrible thing.)
No, today the call is not just to the wealthy. It is to each one of us. It is the call to love one another once more; to share what we have with those in need, be that material resources or time and effort. The Lord calls us by name today and tells us; today I must stay at your house. What is our response?
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used today is Zacchaeus in the Sycamore Tree by James Tissot, 1886-96
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