Effort

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/111814.cfm) reminds me that God rewards our effort for Him

Back in high school, we usually joke our teachers in the hopes of getting effort points, especially in math and essays. Even if the final answer is wrong, we ask for a point or so for effort in trying to come up with a solution. On essay questions, even if the answer or thought is incorrect, we also ask for a point for the paragraph/s written to answer the question. Some teachers give in an award effort points, but some do not. In today’s gospel, we see Jesus awarding in a big way the effort done for Him.

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

Zacchaeus was probably just curious of Jesus, what he looked like and what he really does, so he made the effort to just see him. And Jesus rewarded him when he not only acknowledged Zacchaeus but also ate in his house. Zacchaeus not only saw Jesus, he experienced Jesus.

No one leaves the presence of God unchanged.

Zacchaeus experienced Jesus, and he was changed for good. But he had to do something on his part. Merely Jesus’ presence cannot change him if he did not allow Jesus to. Zacchaeus also had to do his part. He allowed Jesus to move him into action. He allowed Jesus to save him.

We cannot expect to just sit and allow Jesus to change us, we also have to do our part.

Everyday, Jesus reaches out to us in different ways. Through circumstances around us. Through the news. Through people in our lives. But realizations are not enough. Experiencing him is not enough. We have to act, and do our part, so we can be changed, so we can be saved.

May we be willing to act and exert effort not just in seeing Jesus, but in changing for Jesus.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for al the opportunities you give me to experience you. Thank you also for rewarding my effort for you. Help me be like Zacchaeus, Lord. May I be ready and willing to step out of my comfort zone, to take the extra step, extra effort for you. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-