Tuesday of 33rd Week, Year II: reflection

Theme: Salvation will come to your house today.

Reading: Lk: 19:1–10

“Today, salvation has come to this house” was the response of Jesus to the gestures of Zacchaeus in the gospel of today. Indeed, such a response would gladden the heart of anyone that received it.

Special attention should be paid to the gestures of Zacchaeus that attracted such a Blessed declaration from Christ. One was his effort to see Jesus and how he defied all obstacles on his way to achieve that quest. His obstacles were many: his physical incapacity (dwarfism), the crowd, and his social status; he conquered them all. The other was his openness of self to Jesus with an honest resolve to repay his debts of sin if found wanting.

Today is a bright new day. Our challenge is to defy all obstacles that are preventing us from embracing Jesus, obstacles that are hindering us from embracing the grace offered by Jesus. Zacchaeus conquered his; you can conquer yours too.

Then, to receive a blessed assurance from Jesus, we should open ourselves to Him, show Him how we really are, and honestly resolve to rebuild our lives broken by sin, for we cannot come to Jesus and, at the same time, continue enjoying a life punctuated by sin.

So, dear friends, defy your obstacles to meeting Jesus, open yourself to Jesus, and make concrete efforts to remedy the sinful past. If you do this, salvation will come to your heart and house today.

Peace be with you. Have a blessed Tuesday.

Fr. Isaac Chima