The WORD today reminds me that that God rewards our effort to see him.
Our current Pope, Francis, is a very popular one. People would line up for hours waiting to have a glimpse of him when he visits places and countries. People are extra patient and nice when waiting for him. And we can see some lucky people who came just to see the pope, expecting nothing more, but got the surprise of their lives when the Pope would randomly stop to kiss or acknowledge them. This is probably what Zacchaeus experienced in the gospel.
Just like us normal people waiting in line to see the Pope, Zacchaeus was probably just curious of Jesus. He probably wanted to know what Jesus looked like, what he really does, and what is all the fuss about him. So he made the effort to just see Jesus. 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 let go of his possessions as a sign of repentance and knowing what really is important in life. 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. Hindi pwede na puro realizations. We have to act, and do our part, so we can be changed, so we can be saved.
We see a lot of frustrating news. How government is responding mot just to the pandemic, but to the victims of typhoons. We see corruption. We see abuse of power with no accountability. However , we cannot just rant and be frustrated. We need to act as well. Even if we fee that our tax is being corrupted, if we can still help, we should. We should do our part to be a small light in this very dark and frustrating world. While we demand accountability, we can and should still help others. That’s what Jesus wants from us. That’s what the world needs.
In what ways do I experience Jesus? In what ways do I feel God’s love and blessings? Who are the people God uses to reach out to me? How do I respond?
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 all the opportunities you give me to experience you. Thank you also for rewarding my effort for you. Lord, sorry for the times I get contented with realizations. Sorry for being contented with just experiencing you. Help me do more. Disturb me. 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 so, I ask that you change me and transform me to be more like you. Amen.
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
see related reflections:
November 17, 2020
Tuesday of Week 33; St. Elizabeth of Hungary
FIRST READING
I, John, heard the Lord saying to me: “To the angel of the Church in Sardis, write this:
“‘The one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says this: “I know your works, that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Be watchful and strengthen what is left, which is going to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember then how you accepted and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not watchful, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come upon you. However, you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; they will walk with me dressed in white, because they are worthy.
“‘The victor will thus be dressed in white, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name in the presence of my Father and of his angels.
“‘Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
“To the angel of the Church in Laodicea, write this:
“‘The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the source of God’s creation, says this: “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, ‘I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,’ and yet do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white garments to put on so that your shameful nakedness may not be exposed, and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and chastise. Be earnest, therefore, and repent.
“‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me.
I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself first won the victory and sit with my Father on his throne.
“‘Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
“‘The one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says this: “I know your works, that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Be watchful and strengthen what is left, which is going to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember then how you accepted and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not watchful, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come upon you. However, you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; they will walk with me dressed in white, because they are worthy.
“‘The victor will thus be dressed in white, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name in the presence of my Father and of his angels.
“‘Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
“To the angel of the Church in Laodicea, write this:
“‘The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the source of God’s creation, says this: “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, ‘I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,’ and yet do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white garments to put on so that your shameful nakedness may not be exposed, and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and chastise. Be earnest, therefore, and repent.
“‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me.
I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself first won the victory and sit with my Father on his throne.
“‘Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
R. (Rev. 3: 21) I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
He who walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart and slanders not with his tongue.
R. I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
Who harms not his fellow man, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; By whom the reprobate is despised, while he honors those who fear the LORD.
R. I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
Who lends not his money at usury and accepts no bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be disturbed.
R. I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
He who walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart and slanders not with his tongue.
R. I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
Who harms not his fellow man, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; By whom the reprobate is despised, while he honors those who fear the LORD.
R. I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
Who lends not his money at usury and accepts no bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be disturbed.
R. I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
ALLELUIA
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God loved us, and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God loved us, and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
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.”
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