Daily Readings - Tue Nov 21 2017
Luke
1Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.2A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.3He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd.4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.5When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today."6So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.7All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'"8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."9Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what 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.