Some people, in order to discover God, read books. But there is a great book: the very appearance of created things. Look above you! Look below you! Read it. God, whom you want to discover, never wrote that book with ink. Instead, He set before your eyes the things that He had made. Can you ask for a louder voice than that?
- St. Augustine
(Just look, in wonder and gratitude. )
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2 Mc 6:18-31; Psalm 3:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
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.”
Reflection on the Scriptures
In today’s gospel we hear the story of Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector. Typically tax collectors were often disliked by their fellow Jews because they were thought to be dishonest. Zacchaeus was likely very wealthy as a result of his status as a chief tax collector. Additionally, he is short in stature, so in order to get a glimpse of Jesus, he climbs a tree. The crowd
was large, yet Jesus calls out to one who considered to be dishonest and unpopular. Jesus emphatically calls to Zacchaeus “I must stay at your house.” Others in the crowd were not were not happy about this. This scenario is yet another one where Jesus chooses to spend time with those labeled, sinner.
As I reflect on this story, I’m taken back to the image of Jesus the Good Shepherd. He left the sheep to search for the one gone astray. I find great comfort knowing of Jesus’ capacity for unconditional love.
No doubt Zacchaeus’ life was changed by his experience that day. When feeling small and lost, whether having a good day or a bad day, Jesus wants to be with us. He is the one who can bring love, peace and calm to us. It’s up to us to let him in.
“But you, my Lord, are a god of compassion and mercy; you are very patient and full of faithful love.” --Psalm 86:15
- by Angela Maynard
The Son of God Became Human
From The Catechism of the Catholic Church
Part One, Section Two, Chapter Three
Article 8: I Believe in the Holy Spirit
IV. THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME
Christ Jesus
728 Jesus does not reveal the Holy Spirit fully, until he himself has been glorified through his Death and Resurrection. Nevertheless, little by little he alludes to him even in his teaching of the multitudes, as when he reveals that his own flesh will be food for the life of the world.110 He also alludes to the Spirit in speaking to Nicodemus,111 to the Samaritan woman,112 and to those who take part in the
feast of Tabernacles.113 To his disciples he speaks openly of the Spirit in connection with prayer114 and with the witness they will have to bear.115
729 Only when the hour has arrived for his glorification does Jesus promise the coming of the Holy Spirit, since his Death and Resurrection will fulfill the promise made to the fathers.116 The Spirit of truth, the other Paraclete, will be given by the Father in answer to Jesus' prayer; he will be sent by the Father in Jesus' name; and Jesus will send him from the Father's side, since he comes from the Father.
The Holy Spirit will come and we shall know him; he will be with us for ever; he will remain with us. The Spirit will teach us everything, remind us of all that Christ said to us and bear witness to him. The Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth and will glorify Christ. He will prove the world wrong about sin, righteousness, and judgment.
(Footnote references in the Catechism.)
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