The Proclamation of the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke
And entering in, he walked through Jericho. [2] And behold, there was a man named Zacheus, who was the chief of the publicans, and he was rich. [3] And he sought to see Jesus who he was, and he could not for the crowd, because he was low of stature. [4] And running before, he climbed up into a sycamore tree, that he might see him; for he was to pass that way. [5] And when Jesus was come to the place, looking up, he saw him, and said to him: Zacheus, make haste and come down; for this day I must abide in thy house.
[6] And he made haste and came down; and received him with joy. [7] And when all saw it, they murmured, saying, that he was gone to be a guest with a man that was a sinner. [8] But Zacheus standing, said to the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have wronged any man of any thing, I restore him fourfold. [9] Jesus said to him: This day is salvation come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham. [10] For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
I cannot leave without giving meditations about the first
reading for this Tuesday for it’s very beautiful, and it has also a connection
to the Gospel we have and on the Psalms (3:2-8) for today.
The first reading (2 Maccabees 6:18-31) tells us about how
great and serious a sin is. It also reminds me of what St. Dominic Savio said,
“Death rather than sin.” This is where also what I say lies. This is why I’m
always telling you to obediently subject the body which is born in
concupiscence and irascible passions to faith, reason, light, and truth.
Now, I will proceed to the Gospel. We are told that there is
a traitor, a corrupt, a thief, and an unjust tax collector and wealthy man
whose name is Zaccheus. Like Eleazar of the Book of Maccabees, this sinner
Zaccheus desires to see the Truth. When he chanced upon or has found Jesus who
is the Truth, the Truth found him like a monkey in a sycamore tree. Jesus also
looked up to Zaccheus for Zaccheus is a proud and arrogant sinner who desires
to be converted and humbled by God.
Then Jesus Christ the Truth told him that
the Truth and Light which brings salvation must stay in his house. Zaccheus the
sinner humbled himself as he came down for Jesus the Truth and Light and
hastily received Jesus with joy.
The crowd or obstacles or barriers for Zaccheus is no match
for him for he stood or solid to his faith in the bringer of salvation that
Zaccheus believed and saw as the Truth and Light Jesus who came as a name on
his ears.
Those who persecute Zaccheus have no match to him for he has great
faith like Eleazar and Abraham!
Zaccheus desired for salvation and believed
that God will save him from sin and death that imprisoned him by his actions or
deeds. He knows that despite the oppositions against him, he will receive
salvation for as long as he will remain solid in his faith, he remains solid in
God. As he promised to God that he will do contrition, amendments, and
reparation for his sins, God seemed absolving him like in the Sacrament of
Confession, Jesus proclaims that salvation has come to this house – this house
of Israel where the son of Abraham whose faith is as great as his son Zaccheus,
for this lost man seeks and desires salvation form the Truth and Light Jesus
who found him and came for him.
As I paraphrase the words of my brother Saint
Thomas Aquinas to my own words: Obedience is the perfection of the holy life.
For by it a man submits to God even at the point of death like God submitted
Himself to men to be killed; and to save all those who killed Him.
Here are some points to consider:
1 We must obedient and humble to God even unto death.
2. We must go to the Sacrament of Confession to confess all
of our mortal sins and be contrite, solid of not sinning again, and make
amendments and reparation for the sins committed. Say solidly to yourself and
to God, “Death rather than sin!”
3. Meditate on the Gospel and work.
“Jesus, I trust in You.” “O Mary conceived without sin, pray
for us who have recourse to thee.”
Go and set the world on fire!
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!
Mary H. Distributist
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