Daily Readings - Tue Nov 21 2017
First Reading - 2 Maccabees 6.18-31
Gospel - Luke 19.1-10
Luke
1And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.2And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.3And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.4And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.5And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.6And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.7And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.8And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.9And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.10For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was 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.