The
WORD today reminds me
that God rewards our effort to know Him more.
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 and 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
Minsan, kailangan mo lang mag
effort sa pananampalataya.
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. Good thing he did.
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. Jesus’
mere 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.
How is Jesus calling me? In
what ways does he reach out to me? Am I sensitive to his ways? How do I respond
to his call?
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 another Sunday. Thank
you for all the opportunities you give me to experience you. Thank you also for
rewarding my effort for you. Sorry for the times I do not make the effort to
see you, to get to know you. Sorry for not doing my part in being a better
person. 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. As I do, I
know you will change me, save me, and transform me to become more like you.
Amen.
Blessed
Sunday!
In
Christ,
-g-
November 3 2019
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November 2 | November 4 »
Thirty-first
Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 153
Reading 1 WIS 11:22-12:2
Before
the LORD the whole universe is as a grain from a balance
or a drop of morning dew come down upon the earth.
But you have mercy on all, because you can do all things;
and you overlook people's sins that they may repent.
For you love all things that are
and loathe nothing that you have made;
for what you hated, you would not have fashioned.
And how could a thing remain, unless you willed it;
or be preserved, had it not been called forth by you?
But you spare all things, because they are yours,
O LORD and lover of souls,
for your imperishable spirit is in all things!
Therefore you rebuke offenders little by little,
warn them and remind them of the sins they are committing,
that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in you, O LORD!
or a drop of morning dew come down upon the earth.
But you have mercy on all, because you can do all things;
and you overlook people's sins that they may repent.
For you love all things that are
and loathe nothing that you have made;
for what you hated, you would not have fashioned.
And how could a thing remain, unless you willed it;
or be preserved, had it not been called forth by you?
But you spare all things, because they are yours,
O LORD and lover of souls,
for your imperishable spirit is in all things!
Therefore you rebuke offenders little by little,
warn them and remind them of the sins they are committing,
that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in you, O LORD!
Responsorial Psalm PS 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14
R.
(cf. 1) I will praise your name
for ever, my king and my God.
I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
The LORD is faithful in all his words
and holy in all his works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
The LORD is faithful in all his words
and holy in all his works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
Reading 2 2 THES 1:11-2:2
Brothers
and sisters:
We always pray for you,
that our God may make you worthy of his calling
and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose
and every effort of faith,
that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,
and you in him,
in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.
We ask you, brothers and sisters,
with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
and our assembling with him,
not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly, or to be alarmed
either by a "spirit," or by an oral statement,
or by a letter allegedly from us
to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.
We always pray for you,
that our God may make you worthy of his calling
and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose
and every effort of faith,
that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,
and you in him,
in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.
We ask you, brothers and sisters,
with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
and our assembling with him,
not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly, or to be alarmed
either by a "spirit," or by an oral statement,
or by a letter allegedly from us
to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.
Alleluia JN 3:16
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel 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 all 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."
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 all 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."
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