Daily Readings - Tue Nov 21 2017
Luke
1He entered Jericho and was passing through.2And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.3And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature.4So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.5And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today."6So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.7And when they saw it, they all grumbled, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner."8And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold."9And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful stories of faith and integrity. The first reading from 2 Maccabees tells the story of Eleazar, an elderly scribe who refused to compromise his Jewish faith, even in the face of death. When pressured to eat pork, which was forbidden by Jewish law, Eleazar chose to endure torture rather than betray his beliefs. His courage was rooted in his deep conviction that living a life of integrity was more important than preserving his life. He saw his death as a witness to the faith, leaving behind an example of fortitude for future generations.
In the Gospel, we meet Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector who was shunned by society for his dishonest practices. Yet, when he encountered Jesus, something profound happened. Zacchaeus was moved to repentance and made a radical decision to change his life. He promised to give half of his possessions to the poor and to repay those he had cheated. Jesus, seeing the sincerity of his heart, declared that salvation had come to Zacchaeus’ house. This story reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace and that true conversion leads to tangible acts of justice and compassion.
Both Eleazar and Zacchaeus teach us about the importance of living with integrity and being open to transformation. Eleazar’s story challenges us to stand firm in our faith, even when it is difficult or unpopular. Zacchaeus’ story invites us to examine our lives and to make amends where we have fallen short. Together, they remind us that our faith should shape our actions and that living a life of integrity is a powerful witness to the world. Let us ask ourselves: Are we willing to stand firm in our beliefs, even in the face of challenges? Are we open to the transformative power of God’s grace, allowing it to change our hearts and our lives? May we, like Eleazar and Zacchaeus, live in such a way that our lives reflect the values of our faith and bring hope and redemption to those around us.