Thirty- First Sunday of Ordinary Time (Lk. 19:1-10) “How Jesus Sees”

Thirty- First Sunday of Ordinary Time (Lk. 19:1-10) “How Jesus Sees”

        The dark side of stories are often lightened to make them less threatening.  Some legends that start off with dark themes become almost whimsical. 

        We could think of some of the most popular fairy tales.  Grimms fairy tales are an example of this.  The stories which originated in Germany were passed down from generation to generation.  The story lines make good Halloween reading.  Let’s take Hansel and Gretel for example.  The story speaks of a wicked stepmother who abandons her stepchildren in the woods because there isn’t enough food to eat.  The starving children find a house that is made of treats.  A witch who owns the home takes them prisoner.  She plans on eating Hansel.  In the end, Gretel shoves her into an oven burning her alive.  Child neglect, cannibalism, a violent death.  Makes for good bedtime reading.

        Cinderella is another story that has been rehabilitated.  In the original story the wicked stepsisters aren’t ugly, but they are extremely cruel to Cinderella making her do all the work, giving her little food, and locking her up at home.  When Cinderella escaped to the royal ball, she leaves her shoe behind.  The slipper is very small.  When the prince comes to their home with the shoe searching for Cinderella the stepsisters do everything, they can to push their feet into the shoe. One sister cuts off her toes.  The other her heel.  We have a story of jealousy, cruelty and mutilation, but somehow this has become a lighthearted story with a happy ending.  Musicals have been composed with the story as the backdrop.  Cartoons have been made.  One thing is consistent, which is, there is a happy ending for those who are being treated badly.

        The story of Zacchaeus has been sanitized in much the same way.  Throughout our lives we have probably heard homilies about this little man who wanted to see Jesus.  He climbs a sycamore tree to get a glimpse of the Lord.  Jesus sees him up in the tree.  He is amused by this man.  Zacchaeus is presented as someone who is just misunderstood.

        If we examine the text of this story, we find it said that Zacchaeus is “small in stature”.  The implication is that he isn’t necessarily short.  Stature is having to do with how someone is viewed in the community.  Someone who has stature is some one who enjoys a sterling reputation.  When someone with stature comes into a room, they immediately have everyone’s attention.

        When we think of Zacchaeus, we might think of him as coequal to a drug dealer, a pimp, an embezzler, or a child abuser.  He was a traitor, he worked for the Roman occupiers collecting their taxes.  He gouged people collecting more than he was entitled to.  He admits to Jesus that he has defrauded people.  Tax collectors would often use thugs to obtain taxes if people didn’t produce the amounts required.  And of course, the people who couldn’t pay could be turned over for arrest.  Zacchaeus wasn’t an amusing little man.  He was a thug.

        Despite all this, Jesus and Zacchaeus are drawn together.  One represents unbounded virtue.  One is the epidemy of evil.  In a fateful moment they meet.  We are reminded by this story that no sinner is ever beyond redemption.  Something stirred in Zacchaeus.  He has a hunger to be different.  His is the spiritual struggle that we all have as we fight to let go of the false self, to be our true self.  Zacchaeus obviously despised himself as much as others did. 

        Jesus had the vision that is described in the book of Wisdom we shared a few moments ago.  “But you have mercy on all, 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; for what you have hated you would not have fashioned.”  All people are truly made in the image and likeness of God.  Jesus looked on all he met with a gaze of love.  Zacchaeus was looked upon with love.  He was forgiven.  He found out who he really was.  And he lived happily ever after.

        His is a message we need to hear in the present moment.  We live in a time when our eyes are trained to look for other people’s faults whether they be real or imaged.  If we look at political adds for example, why would we ever vote for anyone.  Insults, inuendo, slander, gossip, lies are hurled back and forth.  Is it any wonder that violence results.  We might imagine what Jesus sees.  He sees a world in need of redemption.  He looks on everyone with mercy.  He is slow to judge and quick to forgive. The story of Zacchaeus is an uplifting story, a story that says it is never too late to change.  We are reminded that Jesus came not to condemn the world, but to redeem it.  His joy comes from our salvation.

Reflection Questions:

Who is one person I think is evil?  How would Jesus look at them?

How do I feel about myself today?  How does Jesus look at me?

Dear Parishioners,

         Our new Gathering Center is progressing nicely.  We have been blessed by excellent weather and there have been a few  supply chain issues.  Hodge Construction has done an excellent job.  This week the workers will lay more concrete.  The asphalt overlay will be put down soon.  Unfortunately, because of cool weather we will not be able to seal the asphalt until spring.  There is painting going on inside the building and there is other “inside” work being done. We are probably ahead of schedule. 

        Bishop Tylka has agreed to come and bless this new space on March 18th.  So soon we will begin planning for this great event.  We hope that there might be handicapped access into the church before March.

        This week also, we will be publishing a brochure that will have opportunities to donate specific items and spaces.  We announced last summer that we would be $600,000 short in fundraising because of inflation that has happened over the last two years.  There are also items like tables and chairs and appliances we will need before the building can be fully functional.  This new capital campaign is being called our Centennial Campaign.  Sacred Heart Church will celebrate the 100th year of its dedication this Spring.  As it begins its second century it is being updated for the 21st century.  We need your help to raise the rest of the money necessary.  People have been tremendously generous.  Can you help us complete the task?  Please pray over what you might do as the calendar year closes.

        St. Damien, patron of our campaign, pray for us.

        Fr. Mark