October 30, 2022 WORD Reflection

WORD

"Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house."

And he came down quickly and received him with joy." (Luke 9: 5-6)

OBSERVE

We are reminded today of the last Sunday's Gospel about the pharisee and the tax collector. In today's Gospel, we have another character who is also a tax collector, Zacchaeus.

The story of these two tax collectors showed how we encounter the Lord.

First, in sorrow and tears of acknowledging that we are sinners, just as the tax collector prayed "Lord, have mercy on me a sinner."

Second, in joy as exemplified by Zacchaeus, who did not expect Jesus to visit him. Yet, when the Lord invited Zacchaeus to come down from the tree and allow him to visit his house, Zacchaeus responded with joy.

The transformative encounter with Jesus is not always about crying out our hearts in sorrow but sometimes it is also about being filled with happiness knowing that the Lord wanted to stay in our house.

Balik sa Dios nga naga Yuhom.

RESPOND

Lord, you have shown to us that repentance is experienced both in tears and laughter.

Going back to you and turning away from our sinful ways is not all about sorrow but also the happiness of being with you.

An experience of acceptance without condemnation but also an invitation to leave behind all that hinders us from us being holy.

Make us like Zacchaeus who was generous in responding to your grace. Give us the path of joy. Amen.

DISCERN

Zacchaeus was small of stature but his nobility is shown by his magnanimous response to an encounter with Jesus.

He was willing to give half of his possessions to the poor and was ready to pay back fourfold anyone he might have extorted.

In his joy, he was made aware not of his own frailties but of his capacity to give back.

A forgiven person is magnanimous of heart, not someone who is out there as a "moral police" who is keenly aware of the faults of others but blind to his own.

If Jesus is truly in us, what ways are we invited to be joyful and magnanimous like Zacchaeus?

We can go back to God filled with smiles and laughter.