Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Luke 19: 1 - 10

 

What was Jesus thinking?  A tax collector?  He invites himself to dinner at the home of a tax collector?  A collaborator with the Romans?  And not collecting taxes for the public good, but to build palaces and line the pockets of these belligerent occupiers.

 

Scandal!  Unacceptable!

 

I am sure many followers of Jesus were disillusioned by such behavior and turned away.  But that didn’t matter to Jesus, did it?  “This man too is a descendant of Abraham.”  That’s what Jesus saw in Zacchaeus.  He looked past the sins, and saw Zacchaeus for who he truly was.  For who we all truly are.

 

And the best part?  Jesus didn’t say – or even imply – that if  Zacchaeus repented and mended his ways, then He would see Zacchaeus as a descendant of Abraham.  No, Jesus’ acceptance of Zacchaeus for who he was – sins and all – was what transformed him.

 

Who in my life do I refuse to have dinner with?  Whose hand do I refuse to shake? Whose company do I refuse to be in because it would be unacceptable, scandalous?  Whoever that person is, that person is also a descendant of Abraham, a child of the Father, a brother or sister of Jesus.

 

And every time I reject even a person’s company because of their sins, for who they are – I take away an opportunity for God to transform them.

 

Do I really want to stand in God’s way?

 

 

“Call Me Ishmael”

 

The Gold Star

     In this weeks gospel Luke 18:9-14 Jesus shares a parable with those who where convinced of their righteousness.  In the parable, two men,  a tax collector and a Pharisee, were praying in a temple. The Pharisee’s prayer was primarily about how amazing of a person he was.   In his prayer he mentioned that he tithed  his whole income, and fasted twice a week.  He thanked God for making him different. He wasn’t like the rest of us.  In his eyes he was  better  than everyone else, especially  the  tax collector who was also praying nearby. The tax collector prayed much differently. He prayed with humility. Acknowledging that he was a sinner he asked God for mercy.  He didn’t speak of others. He didn’t judge anyone. He just humbly asked for Gods mercy. At the end of the parable Jesus says that the tax collector will be the one to go home justified  and not the Pharisee. 

    With whom  of the two men do you identify with? Is it the tax collector or the religious Pharisee? I’d like to think that we all have a little bit of both in us.  We can say that  the Pharisee is doing all the “right” things. Fasting , tithing  and being a good Christian.   He’s being  so good of a Christian that he begins to judge others.  He begins to feel like he is different from everyone  else.  In his eyes he is better.  Haven’t you felt like you were better than someone else? How quickly do you notice when someone makes  a wrong turn on their journey? How do you feel when someone doesn’t have the same aspirations or ambition as you?  Do you feel better than them? I have caught myself assuming I’m better than someone else many times.  I will be the first to say I am  very guilty of this type of judgement. I pray regularly, attend church, try to raise ny children with strong Christian values. Aren’t I better?  I know that the answer is no.  Even though I want the “gold star” next to my name I have to constantly remind myself that I am no different then anyone else. Deep down I know that God doesn’t  want me to put myself above  or below anyone else.  I know that we are all his children. I know this but sometimes I lose my way. Sometimes I think that God is handing out the gold stars  for great behavior and if I don’t have the most then I failed. If I don’t  get the stars next to my name then I’m like the rest of “them”.   I know it Sounds a lot like that Pharisee.  As followers of  Christ we are to remember that all of his children are equally loved and blessed.   We are all made in his image.  Different is some ways but Gods loves us all the same.  Whether you are a religious Pharisee or a sinful Tax collector the love God has for us is the same.  There is no greater equalizer than that. 

    he tax collector had a different approach in his prayer. The tax collector recognized who he was.  He wasn’t concerned with others. He wasn’t judging. He was just being humble and aware of his shortcomings. He was aware that someone higher than him was in control.   At times I also feel like the tax collector.  Strangely it’s the times are when I’m down. When life gets you down it is as if you know that you really aren’t better than anyone else.  You remember that you are on this journey and slowly figuring it out. The gold stars aren’t being handed out. You recognize that the Gold star you need is Jesus.  He’s the ultimate gold star.   The tax collector understood that next to our name is the ultimate gold star. Just humbly ask for mercy and you will receive.  There is  no need to be better than anyone else when the best is always with  you.    

    How about you? I ask again. Who do you relate to? The  Pharisee or the tax collector? I continue to work on myself  no different than you. I continue to have days when I’m a humble tax collector asking for mercy. Then there are days when I feel like I’m on way to another gold star and I want to the world to see.  As God continues to work through me I am beginning to see that the only Gold Star that  really matters is the one that  you can never earn.   I love that God made it that way.   Without having to earn anything you can remain humble and can keep your eye on the  real star. Let us not forget to let go of all we have done and embrace what God is doing. 

 

Siempre Dar Gracias, Siempre

 

 

Señor Jesús, 1diez leprosos fueron sanados, pero solamente uno regresó a darte gracias y el que regreso era un extranjero. Y Tú le dices, “levántate, tu fe te ha salvado “. Y preguntas, ¿A dónde están los otros nueve?

 

Señor Jesús, ¿soy yo uno de los otros nueve o soy como el extranjero, agradecido?

 

Ciertamente que a veces soy como los nueve. Me olvido de dar gracias; aún en los momentos preciosos, después de recibirte en la Sagrada Comunión. Me distraigo y me olvido de darte gracias. O estoy tan ocupado como ministro de la Sagrada Comunión que no caigo en cuenta de la grandeza de lo que estoy haciendo. Acabo de recibirte, te tengo en mi corazón y te tengo en mis manos para darte a mis hermanos y hermana.  ¡Creo señor, ayuda mi falta de fe!  Te ruego que me ayudes siempre a darte gracias en ese momento tan solemne.

 

  El recibirte en mi corazón es el momento más precioso, más solemne de mi vida y ¡cuántas veces me olvido de darte gracias!

 

Pero hay tantas otras bendiciones que recibo de tu bondad todos los días y que tomo por desapercibidas: mi vida, mi salud, mi hogar, mi familia, mi familia parroquial, todas las personas que me quieren mucho y a quien yo también quiero. Gracias Señor por todas estas bendiciones y por todas las otras que me regalas a diario.

 

Oh Señor Jesús, te pido otro favor: siempre tengo miedo de qué cuando te doy las gracias lo vaya hacer como el fariseo, lleno de orgullo, lleno de mí mismo, comparándome con otros y creyéndome mejor que el resto de los cristianos.

 

Perdón Señor por las veces que he actuado como un fariseo, por las veces que te he dado gracias de manera arrogante y falta de sensibilidad y de humildad.  Concédeme la gracia de orar y de dar gracias como lo hacía el recaudador de impuestos, con gran agradecimiento y con gran humildad.

 

Oh Señor Jesús, ten misericordia de mí, un pecador incapaz de dar gracias humildemente por todas tus bondades para conmigo y para mis seres queridos.

 

Amen

 

El Caballero de Nuestra Señora