31st Sunday in Ordinary Time (C-)
October 30, 2022
Fr. John C. Garrett
Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus is a parable in action. It illustrates the whole meaning of Jesus’ incarnation: "The Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost." Christ's whole life on earth was dedicated to bringing people back into friendship with God, and to establishing his Church to continue that mission throughout history.
It seems so obvious, but we forget about it so easily! This is the Good News of Jesus Christ: that in him we can once again live in friendship with God, our sins can be forgiven, we can become what we were created to be – children of God, members of God's family.
Original sin had shattered the relationship between the human family and God. Humankind rebelled against God by disobeying the law that he had built into our human nature. As a result, we became lost and the rebellion spread. We had tried to achieve happiness by our own power, without God, but that is impossible. We were created to live in communion with God. Our happiness, on earth and in heaven, depends on living in friendship with God.
Christ came to rebuild that friendship, to reconcile that broken relationship. That was his mission. Whenever people trusted him enough to let him accomplish this mission in their lives, as Zacchaeus did, they experienced deep and lasting peace. There is no doubt that Zacchaeus found more satisfaction in giving back the money he had extorted through unfair taxes than he had found in taking it.
Jesus wants to do that for all of us: to bring us back into a right relationship with God, to give us the courage to live as we ought to live, so that we can experience the satisfaction we were meant to experience.
The power of Christ's grace was able to change this evil and greedy man, who had spent his lifetime consciously developing his selfish tendencies. If Christ was able to do that, he can certainly change us, who actually want to follow Christ more closely.
A teaching nun relates the following story. In her class of eighth-graders was a girl who through the years had given nothing but trouble. She was unruly, lazy, loud, rude, and constantly acted out – an all-around bad apple. Teachers were not only annoyed with this girl; they were afraid of her.
One day Sister noticed a complete change in the girl. She was quiet and attentive. She put her mind to her schoolwork. She became polite and considerate.
What could possibly have brought about such a transformation? Maybe the girl had A.D.D. and the guidance counselor had put her on medication? Maybe she had been depressed because of a bad atmosphere at home and the school doctor had given her some antidepressants?
Sister watched closely, but the only thing she saw was that now and then the girl put her hand to her chest. Sister waited for the right moment, then asked her, "Why do you put your hand to your chest? Do you have a pain of some kind?"
"No, Sister," the girl explained, as she pulled a small crucifix from the neck of her dress. "Remember on Good Friday when Father uncovered the crucifix at the altar? He told us to hold our crucifix and to look at it when we are tempted. That is what I am doing when I put my hand on my chest; I am feeling my crucifix. Please, Sister, don't tell anyone."
We should never underestimate the power of Christ, who has come specifically to "seek and save what was lost."
We all want to experience more deeply this transforming power of Christ's presence in our lives, and the best way to do that is by helping others experience it. That's what Zacchaeus did. Jesus reached out to him; he came into his life. Jesus has also reached out to us. He has made us Christians, members of his Church. Zacchaeus responded by welcoming Jesus into his home. We have also welcomed Jesus. We welcome him into our lives whenever we pray, whenever we come to Mass, and especially when we receive him in Holy Communion, as we will do once again in just a few minutes.
However the encounter didn't end there. Salvation had not yet come to Zacchaeus's household. The full power of Christ's grace had not yet been unleashed in his life. Only after Zacchaeus promised to spread his wealth to those around him instead of hoarding it for himself, to turn his selfishness into self-giving, to let God's goodness towards him affect his actions towards others, only then did Jesus say, "Today salvation has come to this house."
This week, let's spread whatever wealth we have received in life – our time, talents, and treasure – to those around us. Let's combat our selfish tendencies by turning them into self-giving actions.
When we receive Christ in the Eucharist, let's humbly ask him to show us how we can let his goodness affect our actions this coming week, and when he tells us, let's promise to follow through.