First reading Wisdom 11:22-12:2
You are merciful to all, because you love all that exists
In your sight, Lord, the whole world is like a grain of dust that tips the scales,
like a drop of morning dew falling on the ground.
Yet you are merciful to all, because you can do all things
and overlook men’s sins so that they can repent.
Yes, you love all that exists, you hold nothing of what you have made in abhorrence,
for had you hated anything, you would not have formed it.
And how, had you not willed it, could a thing persist,
how be conserved if not called forth by you?
You spare all things because all things are yours, Lord, lover of life,
you whose imperishable spirit is in all.
Little by little, therefore, you correct those who offend,
you admonish and remind them of how they have sinned,
so that they may abstain from evil and trust in you, Lord.
Responsorial Psalm 144(145):1-2,8-11,13b-14
I will bless your name for ever, O God my King.
I will give you glory, O God my king,
I will bless your name for ever.
I will bless you day after day
and praise your name for ever.
The Lord is kind and full of compassion,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
How good is the Lord to all,
compassionate to all his creatures.
All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,
and your friends shall repeat their blessing.
They shall speak of the glory of your reign
and declare your might, O God.
The Lord is faithful in all his words
and loving in all his deeds.
The Lord supports all who fall
and raises all who are bowed down.
Second reading 2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2
The name of Christ will be glorified in you, and you in him
We pray continually that our God will make you worthy of his call, and by his power fulfil all your desires for goodness and complete all that you have been doing through faith; because in this way the name of our Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified in you and you in him, by the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
To turn now, brothers, to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we shall all be gathered round him: please do not get excited too soon or alarmed by any prediction or rumour or any letter claiming to come from us, implying that the Day of the Lord has already arrived.
Gospel Luke 19:1-10
Salvation comes to the house of Zacchaeus
Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the town when a man whose name was Zacchaeus made his appearance: he was one of the senior tax collectors and a wealthy man. He was anxious to see what kind of man Jesus was, but he was too short and could not see him for the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus who was to pass that way. When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him: ‘Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.’ And he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully. They all complained when they saw what was happening. ‘He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house’ they said. But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to the Lord, ‘Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.’
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A love that goes beyond labels
In today’s gospel, Jesus went to the house of the chief tax collector, Zacchaeus. The people, unhappy with Jesus’ gesture, started grumbling and complaining, “He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house”. They did not use Zacchaeus’ name but labelled him “a sinner”. However, for Jesus, Zacchaeus was more than this label because he was more than just the sum of his bad mistakes and faults. Jesus looked at Zacchaeus and perceived him beyond the label, his profession, and his wealth and recognised him as a person wanting something more in life, as a person seeking God.
Jesus calls us to imitate Him in how He looks at and loves others. Unfortunately, we often label people by their behaviour, appearances,
mistakes, social status, etc. We focus on the negatives and end up not loving them unconditionally. Jesus calls us to go beyond labels and into the reality of who the person is. Each person is a person with worth and dignity because he/she is a child of God, a fellow brother and sister of ours loved by God.
Reflective question:
Is it a challenge for me to love like Jesus?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Sandra Seow FMVD.
