THE LORD IS KIND AND FULL OF COMPASSION

XXXI SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Luke 19:1-10

At every turn of his journey, Jesus surprises his disciples. He never conforms himself to the politically correct or to the accepted rules of good behaviour. For Jesus, people - whoever they are - are his first concern, and he never rejects anybody, because for him nobody is beyond redemption. Even those who seem to be beyond salvation and who are already condemned by the human justice, find the welcoming arms of Jesus embracing them. It is for them that he came. And the story of Zacchaeus is one example of that. 

Zacchaeus was an important and rich man, but he was despised and hated. Working for the Roman State as a chief tax collector, he was seen as a collaborator, and therefore as a traitor. The tax collectors were considered thieves, who enriched themselves by overtaxing people and then keeping a share of the taxes. And people hated and rejected them, considering them to be always in a state of sin and impurity. They had no friends, but their colleagues, and all those who were collaborated with the colonial power. Describing Zacchaeus, Luke tells us that he was rich, but short. His wealth was not enough to give him status among the people. From the crowd that surrounded and followed Jesus, nobody would allow him through so that he may be able to have a good look at Jesus, much less to talk to him or even to touch him. Before the people, he was a nobody - very short indeed. However, his strong desire to see Jesus made him full of imagination, and he decided to climb a tree, ignoring the possibility that people might find him out and laugh at him.  However, we may try to hide from others, but never from God, and so Jesus found Zacchaeus, called him and made himself invited to his house. Jesus does not impose himself on anybody, but he discovered in Zacchaeus’ attitude an invitation, and he could not let it pass by. Full of joy, Zacchaeus came down and welcomed Jesus into his home. Seeing what was happening, everybody complained and reproached Jesus for entering the house of a sinner.

In the encounter of Jesus with Zacchaeus, we have in real life a repetition of the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, which was read last Sunday. In Zacchaeus, we have a real tax collector, hated and despised by all, and not only by the Pharisees. And in this real life story, the Pharisee does not represent only a class of people (the pharisees), but he stands for all  - the whole crowd surrounding Jesus. How quick they were in judging  and condemning Zacchaeus! Indeed, how quick we are to see ourselves as saints and the others as sinners, who deserve condemnation.

The encounter with the welcoming Jesus made it possible for Zacchaeus to convert, not only accepting Jesus, but changing his life and atoning for his misdeeds. And Jesus explained once more his mission: “The Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.” (Lk 19:10)

The book of Wisdom praises God for his merciful love and for his patience, giving us time to repent and to turn back to him:

Yet you are merciful to all, because you can do all things

and overlook men’s sins so that they can repent.

Yes, you love all that exists, you hold nothing of what you have made in abhorrence,

for had you hated anything, you would not have formed it. (Wis 11:23-24)

Let us give thanks to God with the psalmist:

The Lord is kind and full of compassion,

  slow to anger, abounding in love.

How good is the Lord to all,

  compassionate to all his creatures.

(Ps 145:8-9)

THE LORD IS CLOSE TO THE BROKEN-HEARTED

XXX SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Luke 18:9-14

This Sunday, we can hear one parable more, in which Jesus teaches us about the correct attitude towards God and towards the others. It is also a parable about the way we look at ourselves in comparison with the others and a parable about the correct attitude in prayer.

Luke tells us that Jesus told the parable “to some people who prided themselves on being virtuous and despised everyone else.” (Lk 18:9). Putting side by side a pharisee and a publican, Jesus presents two people with two completely different attitudes. For Jesus’ audience, this parable was utterly shocking. The Pharisees were considered good and holy, so how could Jesus find blame on a Pharisee and condemn him? And how could he praise the Publican, a sinner hated by everybody?

However, if we look at them from Jesus’ perspective, we can see that Jesus looked into their hearts and judged them well. Just hear what the Pharisee says about himself: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.” (Lk 18:11-12). He is not praying, but boasting about himself. God should recognised how good he is and even proclaim his greatness and sing his praises. He is Mr. Right, and in his righteousness he stands alone. There is nobody like him. The others are impure and sinners; they are evil people. They do not deserve God’s attention. In the Pharisee, we see the self-righteous man, whose glorious righteousness must be sung. Instead of praying to God, he sounds as praying to himself. He was so full of himself, that he had no place for God and no place for the others. So he despises everybody else, mainly the Publican (tax collector). Instead of examining himself and ask God’s forgiveness for his own sins, he preferred to speak of the other’s sins. He set himself up as judge of the others, condemning them straight away, without leniency. He s not able to be merciful, because does not see the need of mercy for himself. He does not need to be saved, because he is righteous enough to deserve his reward. We may say that he is bold enough to impose himself on God, and God should follow his judgement. He forgot that we have no rights over God and that salvation is a free gift of his merciful love.

The publicans were looked upon with contempt. Collaborating with the Roman colonisers, they were seen as traitors and hated for that. Enriching themselves by overtaxing and keeping a share for themselves, they were considered thieves, and therefore sinners. People could not get rid of them, but despised and hated them. However, it is this man whom Jesus presents as an example of prayer that was accepted by God. He was aware of his own sinfulness and he had nothing to boast about. Instead, he humbled himself, “not daring even to raise his eyes to heaven”. He did not deserve to come close to the Lord, and so he “stood some distance away”, beating his breast and pleading for mercy.

In the first reading, we find the words: “The humble man’s prayer pierces the clouds” (Sir 35:21), and that happened with the Publican, while the Pharisee remained alone with his own pride.

The psalm 34 expresses the confidence of the Publican in God’s mercy. We sing God’s praises, because he “is close to the broken-hearted” and he saves “those whose spirit is crushed”.

Let us pray with the psalm 34

I will bless the Lord at all times,

  his praise always on my lips;

in the Lord my soul shall make its boast.

  The humble shall hear and be glad.

The Lord turns his face against the wicked

  to destroy their remembrance from the earth.

The just call and the Lord hears

  and rescues them in all their distress.

The Lord is close to the broken-hearted;

  those whose spirit is crushed he will save.

The Lord ransoms the souls of his servants.

  Those who hide in him shall not be condemned. 

(Psalm 34:2-3, 18-19)

FROM WHERE SHALL COME MY HELP?

XXIX SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Psalm 120:1-8

The responsorial psalm gives us the spirit of this Sunday’s readings.

In difficult times, when we are in trouble and hopeless, unable to find a way and to find meaning for our lives, we may ask ourselves if there is anybody anywhere who may help us to come out of our inner struggles and lead us to peace. There are moments, when we are forced to accept our weaknesses, our shortcomings and our failures and then we realise that of our own we are helpless and lost. Then we may cry with the psalmist: “From where shall come my help?”. And the answer comes quickly: “My help shall come from the Lord who made heaven and earth.” Indeed, 

“The Lord is your guard and your shade; 

at your right side he stands.

The Lord will guard you from evil,

he will guard your soul.

The Lord will guard your going and coming

both now and for ever.”

Sometimes, doubt may invade our hearts, and the psalmist gives expression to it, when he says:

May he never allow you to stumble!

Let him sleep not, your guard.

But the answer comes, reassuring:

No, he sleeps not nor slumbers,

Israel’s guard.

The first reading is a proof of that. As they approached the promised land, but before entering it, the people of Israel was confronted with other nations and had to fight their way through. One of such incidents was their encounter with the Amalekites, which they would have lost, but for the prayer of Moses. The people of Israel were forced to understand that their destiny is in the hands of the Lord, and he is a God who does not abandon his people. Moses with raised hands - hands of supplication, but also of praise and thanksgiving - teaches about the power of prayer. We must not get tired of knocking at God’s door. In the end, he will give us what is most important for our lives and for our salvation.

In the Gospel, Jesus tells the story of the unjust judge, who did not fear God nor respect man. He was prepotent, judging as he pleased or according to what he would profit from it. In spite of that, he was forced by a widow to judge fairly her case, giving her the protection that she demanded. And he did so just to get rid of her coming everyday to bother him. The unjust judge had to listen to the poor widow and give her rest and peace, so that he could find peace as well. If he did so, in spite of being unjust, much more God will do so, because he is the just judge and he wants to see justice being done to his chosen ones. And Jesus added:

“I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?” (Lk 18:8).

The problem with us - and Jesus goes straight to the point - is faith? Do we believe? Do we have faith in God and we put ourselves totally in his hands?

Proclaim the message

To Timothy, Paul gave the following orders, which he received from the Lord:

“Proclaim the message and, welcome or unwelcome, insist on it.” (2 Tim 4:2)

This month of October is dedicated to reflect upon the missionary dimension of our faith. It is a month of prayer, and it must be as well a month for us to commit ourselves to the proclamation of the Gospel. If Jesus is my Lord, who gives me salvation, life and peace, how can I remain silent about him? If I have experienced the loving mercy of God, how can I remain silent about it, stopping others from having the same experience? If we are christians, we have to be missionaries.

And Paul reminds Timothy of the importance of the Scriptures to lead others to Jesus Christ. From them, we “can learn the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (2 Tim 3:15-16). If we read the Scriptures, guided by the Spirit, they will lead us to Christ and from them we will learn the wisdom of the children of God.

RECOGNISING GOD’S SURPRISES IN OUR LIVES

XXVIII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Luke 17:11-19

In this Sunday’s readings, we have the story of two outsiders, who were able to recognise the hand of God in the surprise that touched their lives. 

Naaman, in spite of being a leper, held a high position as “commander of the army of the king of Syria” (2 Kings 5:1). It is very surprising to find a leper that was not discriminated against. In Israel, a neighbouring country, it was not so. However, with Naaman we are faced with the truth that sickness comes to the rich and the poor alike; it does not discriminate; and all suffer in the same way. And leprosy is a terrible disease that eats away one’s body, leaving the person disfigured and scaring. Even though Naaman, like all sick people, was ready to do anything to get cured, his pride and his sense of honour would not allow him to follow the prophet’s instructions; his servants had to convince him. Then he bathed seven times in the river Jordan and he was clean and healed. His healing led to a profession of faith, saying to the prophet: “From now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the Lord.” (2 King 5:17).

The Samaritan was also an outsider, as good as a pagan - so the Jews thought. However, out of ten, he was the only one to go back and to give thanks for his healing. The others had got used to the divine and were not able any more to recognise God’s favours. 

There is a Bemba proverb that says: Uushitasha, mwana wa ndoshi, meaning: The one who does not give thanks, is the son of a sorcerer. Why is it so? The ungrateful person thinks that he has a right over the others, and the others are no more than his servants, existing only to satisfy his needs. Someone who is not able to recognise the favours that he receives from others will never recognise the favours that he receives from God. He sees himself as the owner of everything and he is ready to trample upon everybody. 

Jesus was very surprised that those who should know better were not able to recognise God’s hands touching their lives, and he praised the thankful attitude of the Samaritan. The others had been healed, but their healing did not lead them to believe. The Samaritan was touched by this great surprise of God’s love, and he believed. And Jesus told him: “Your faith has saved you.” (Lk 17:19).

The Gospel shows us that to be healed and to be saved are two different things. We may be surrounded by miracles and yet remain untouched by them. It was the same with the invalid at the pool of Bethesda (Jn 5:2-15). Instead of thanking Jesus for healing him, he went to denounce him to his enemies. 

The Gospel is a warning to us. Beware of letting God’s grace passing by; beware of the inability to be surprised and touched by the God of surprises. When we loose the ability to be surprised, the Spirit of God cannot touch us and inspire us. 

In the second reading (2 Timothy 2:8-13), we find Paul in prison, treated like a criminal because of preaching the Gospel. He accepts his suffering and the hardships of prison for the sake of all those  who are chosen: 

“So I bear it all for the sake of those who are chosen, so that in the end they may have the salvation that is in Christ Jesus and the eternal glory that comes with it.” 

The servants of the Gospel may be put in chains, “But the word of God is not chained.” (2 Tim 2:9).

TO LIVE FAITH IN LOVE

XXVII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - 2 Timothy 1:6-8,13-14

During my youth, we lived through times of great optimism. The dark spots of the world seemed to be no more than passing shadows, giving in to the warmth of light that flashed all round us. It seemed that we were on the way to great human victories, nothing being impossible. Nowadays, the pendulum is going back to a pessimist attitude. We are being confronted with the power of evil, and the worst evil is the evil in human hearts. The violence, the hatred and the rage that makes of human beings the wildest beasts on earth, who are never satisfied with the shedding of blood. It is never enough, and it is done in the cruelest forms. The thirst for power and control leads to total destruction. It is sheer madness, as we can see in Syria.

This evil pervades everything and may get hold of our hearts. And we make the cry of Habakkuk our own:

How long, O Lord, am I to cry for help

while you will not listen;

to cry ‘Oppression!’ in your ear

and you will not save?

Why do you set injustice before me,

why do you look on where there is tyranny?

Outrage and violence, this is all I see,

all is contention, and discord flourishes. (Habakkuk 1:2-3)

This is the cry of someone disappointed, living in anguish, because there is only violence all round him. This is the cry of many psalms and the cry of many prophets. We are flooded with a feeling of being deserted and abandoned, left to our own fate. And we question ourselves if God cares. The question is addressed to God himself. How can he stand aloof, when so much violence is done in his name? But maybe, instead of addressing our questions to God, we should question ourselves in first. How much have we contributed for this violence? How much of it is a reaction to our unfaithfulness?

In his answer, God tells us through the prophet that he will bring to fulfilment his promise of salvation. And he ends up with this great statement: 

“the upright man will live by his faithfulness.” (Habakkuk 2:4))

We must live by faith. And faith implies faithfulness, which means an effort on our side to answer God’s call, to live by his commandments and to produce fruits of love, because we have experienced the love of God. But we can never forget that faith is a gift from God as well. That’s why the Apostles’ request is our prayer as well:

“Increase our faith!” (Lk 17:5).

Faith implies a total confidence in God’s love and God’s care. We are in his hands, and he will never abandon us; even in difficult times, he will protect and rescue us. This confidence must lead us to obedience as well: May his will be done! And in the end, when we have done everything that he asked us to do, we must recognise that we did nothing special; in fact, we did no more than our duty.

In his second letter to Timothy, Paul advises him never “to be ashamed of witnessing to the Lord” (2 Tim 1:8) and to keep the sound teaching:

“Keep as your pattern the sound teaching you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” (2 Tim 1:13)

Let us ask the Lord to increase our faith and to give us the strength to live that faith in love.