Readings:
2Macc. 6:18-31; Ps.15; Luke:19:1-10
Rev.
Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.
WHEN A
SINNER CLIMBS THE SYCAMORE TREE OF GRACE, SALVATION COMES TO HIS SOUL
Oftentimes
we are quick to criticize, condemn and label people as sinners, outcasts and
good for nothing. But this is not the attitude of Jesus who is always
compassionate especially to sinners and those rejected in the society and wants
us to do the same. This is evident in our Gospel passage today, where we were
told the story of Zacchaeus. A man who was regarded as a public sinner. Wanting
to see Jesus, but being small in size, he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore
tree and waited for Jesus to come by. He really had a great desire to see
Jesus.
Thus,
the attitude of Jesus upon seeing Zacchaeus on the tree was very touching.
Jesus does not ask, nor does he demand anything. He only responded to the inner
desire of a sinful man who seeks to see him and he said to him, “Zacchaeus come
down. Hurry, because I am to stay at your home today” Zacchaeus gets down and
received Jesus, in his house with great joy, for sometimes in our lives when we
struggle with our inner desires and weaknesses all we need is to sacrifice our
pride and humbly climb the sycamore tree of grace for on it we find the
satisfaction and peace.
No
doubt, people complained and criticized Jesus saying “He has gone to stay at a
sinner’s house”. But Jesus does not care about the criticism. He went to the
house of Zacchaeus and defended him from the criticism. And rather than calling
him a sinner, he called him “son of Abraham”. Here we see how Jesus accepts
those who were not accepted. He offers a place to those who do not have one. He
receives as brothers and sisters people whom the society and religion rejected.
Similarly,
we heard in our first reading how Eleazar demonstrated a life of nobility by
resisting to live a life of pretence and defilement, for he resolved to die
with honour rather than to live disgraced. Such pretence he said, “does not
square with our time of life; many young people would suppose that Eleazar at
the age of ninety had conformed to the foreigners’ way of life, and so be led
astray on my account; This will only bring defilement and disgrace on my old
age. For even though for the moment I avoid execution by man, I can never,
living or dead, elude the grasp of the Almighty”.
Dear
friends, when we climb the sycamore tree of grace salvation comes to our souls.
This is what we must learn from Zacchaeus and Eleazar who remained faithful and
did not live a life of pretence. We must learn to be a good example to other
people and try to accommodate people’s differences and weaknesses. But how do
we accept people who are despised and marginalized in our society? Can we, like
Jesus, perceive people’s inner desire for compassion and give them attention?
Remember, the compassion and tenderness of Jesus brought about a total change
in the life of Zacchaeus. Why not show some compassion to those we meet today,
for it may be the only opportunity to embrace the salvation they will ever have
in their life?
It is in the light of this salvation we
will understand the importance of the memorial of the presentation of the
Blessed Virgin Mary we celebrate today. That
great moment when St. Joachim and St. Anne offered their firstborn child to the
Lord at the Temple as prescribed by the Law. A gratuitous action in
appreciation of God’s grace for choosing Mary to be the mother of our Lord and
her total availability to God’s plan. Let us all be inspired by the example of
Mary who the Lord has set before us, that we shall also be righteous, virtuous
and great in faith as she has shown us in her lifetime in thanksgiving to God.
LET US
PRAY: Lord God, we are sinners in need of your mercy. As we climb the sycamore
tree of grace with contrite hearts, may you find in us the inner desire for
mercies and in your compassion purify us and welcome us back to your kingdom.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.
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