Re-sizing Zacchaues, the little man who became big through mercy received and given- Sunday's reading reflection

Jesus does not say anything about conversion, or giving up his day-job, or his fortune. Jesus says only that he desires to stay with this socially inert fellow. Zacchaeus is reduced, or re-sized to his dignity. He slides down the tree and welcomes Jesus joyfully. He also welcomes himself by reducing the size of his possessions. He fulfills the Jewish law of repayment and Luke has Zacchaeus do what the Rich Man in the previous chapter could not do, he gave half his riches to the “poor”. Conversion follows encounter; Jesus meets us and the relationship makes the difference in our actions.  What is his motivation?  My guess is that it comes from that we he himself inspired in the first reading.  

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;

(Adapted from Larry Gillick, S.J.)

Who do you take your troubles to? - Tomorrow's reading reflection

"the Gospel, that has come to you"

Who do you take your troubles to? Jesus' disciples freely brought their troubles to him because they found him ready and able to deal with any difficulty, affliction, or sickness which they encountered. When Simon Peter brought Jesus to his home for the Sabbath meal (right after Jesus preached in the synagogue in Capernaum), his mother-in-law was instantly healed because Jesus heard Simon's prayer. Jesus could not avoid drawing a crowd wherever he went.  

Jesus' numerous healings and exorcisms demonstrated the power and authority of his word, the "good news of the kingdom of God." When he rebuked the fever, it immediately left. When he rebuked the demons, they left as well. Why did the demons shudder at Jesus' presence? They recognized that he was the Christ, the Son of God and that he had power to destroy their kingdom by releasing those bound by it. Jesus came to set us free from bondage to sin and evil. Do you seek freedom in Christ and trust in his power to set you free, however that may be?

(Adapted from Don Schwager)

St. Barnabas and Pope Francis - Tomorrow's reading reflection

Tomorrow the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Barnabas, Apostle.  St. Luke writes of him in Acts, "for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith."  In the Gospel, Jesus says to his disciples, "You are the salt of the earth." From this we get the modern saying, "He/she is the salt of the earth," meaning they're a good person, filled with faith and God's presence."  

When I think of a major public figure that fits this description, who happens to be an Apostle as well, I think of Pope Francis.  Few could argue he is a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. Not only that but like the Gospel, Pope Francis, in some very unconventional ways, is letting his light "shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."  

Back to salt.  It's a preservative right?  When meat is not preserved, what happens to it?  It becomes rank, polluted, corrupted.  Pope Francis has spoken frequently since being elected about the corruption of "spiritual worldliness"- about when disciples and apostles alike lose their taste and are "no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot."  In other words, when we become less like St. Barnabas and more like Judas (both Apostles mind you) we not only become rank and polluted but we risk corrupting others who may "eat of us" through their interactions with us.  

None of us is Jesus.  Nor do we have to be Judas.  Via media- Let's try to be like Pope Francis and St. Barnabas.

Thank you, Pope Francis, for being like St. Barnabas- "salt of the earth" and "light of the world."

Benedict XVI helps us see what is not seen - Daily reading reflection

The Gospel today again points to Jewish leaders of the time trying to trap Jesus.  Jesus says to them, 

“Are you not misled
because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?
When they rise from the dead,
they neither marry nor are given in marriage,
but they are like the angels in heaven.
As for the dead being raised,
have you not read in the Book of Moses,
in the passage about the bush, how God told him,
I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac,
and the God of Jacob?
He is not God of the dead but of the living.
You are greatly misled.”

It made me think about all the incredible pilgrimage site throughout the world.  We can see and touch the places where Jesus and the saints lived.  But we can no longer see them.  When we return from pilgrimage and the spiritual high that we experienced begins to wear off with the normal burdens of life, what then?  We continue to see Jesus and the saints present in the Eucharist and in the effects of their presence.  

The problem for the Sadducees was that they were grounded too much in what they saw.  They didn't necessarily believe in the resurrection, which they could not see.  That made me think of an answer our Pope-Emeritus, Benedict XVI gave to a first communicant in a catechesis back in 2005.  I have provided that exchange below.  The girl's name was Andrea.  And the former Holy Father shows that, though very intellectual, he can break-it-on-down for even an 8 year-old.

In preparing me for my First Communion day, my catechist told me that Jesus is present in the Eucharist. But how? I can't see him! (Andrea)

No, we cannot see him, but there are many things that we do not see but they exist and are essential. For example: we do not see our reason, yet we have reason. We do not see our intelligence and we have it. In a word: we do not see our soul and yet it exists and we see its effects, because we can speak, think and make decisions, etc. Nor do we see an electric current, for example, yet we see that it exists; we see this microphone, that it is working, and we see lights. Therefore, we do not see the very deepest things, those that really sustain life and the world, but we can see and feel their effects. This is also true for electricity; we do not see the electric current but we see the light.

So it is with the Risen Lord: we do not see him with our eyes but we see that wherever Jesus is, people change, they improve. A greater capacity for peace, for reconciliation, etc., is created. Therefore, we do not see the Lord himself but we see the effects of the Lord: so we can understand that Jesus is present. And as I said, it is precisely the invisible things that are the most profound, the most important. So let us go to meet this invisible but powerful Lord who helps us to live well.

CATECHETICAL MEETING OF THE HOLY FATHER

WITH CHILDREN WHO HAD RECEIVED 

THEIR FIRST COMMUNION DURING THE YEAR

Saturday, 15 October 2005

Application: When doubting God's existence or the Real Presence, what effects can you see around you that cannot be explained simply by what is seen?  For me it's when I see "coincidences".  I know better.  As the Pope before the Pope-Emeritus said, there are no coincidences with God.