First Reading: Wisdom 11:22 - 12:2

This passage reflects the mystery of creation by God.  It explains the delay of God’s justice and wrath, so that “they may repent.”  It is not because of God’s weakness against human evil that His justice is delayed.  It is precisely because He is all-powerful and unchallenged.  God is the “lover of souls,” because His “spirit is in all things.”

Although this work is the last written of the Old Testament and composed in Greek, the author was Jewish and knowledgeable of the Scriptures.  The word for spirit and breath are the same in Hebrew.  It reflects the story of the creation of mankind with the breath of God into “the clay of the ground” (Gn 2:7).  The imagery expresses the intimacy of God with mankind.  Wisdom literature expresses a universal authority of God over all creation.

Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1:11 - 2:2

Paul concludes the thanksgiving part of this letter with the assertion that God “may make you worthy.”  It is impossible to make oneself “worthy of His calling.”  God is also the force behind the success of the Gospel.  There is a moral component of Christian life that is expressed in the efforts that the Christian makes as well as the purpose for which those actions are done.

In the second half of this reading, Paul begins his exhortation, an appeal to focus one’s efforts and life.  The “coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” is a future event that provides the vision and hope of the faithful.  The “spirit” is probably a reference to (false) prophecy.  The “day of the Lord” is the endtime, the day of judgment upon all creation.  Paul cautions the Thessalonians not to be overwhelmed by this future event, so that they lose the importance of the message of Christ on their daily life.  We have seen the effect of a false prophecy about the immediacy of this “coming,” as in the Jonestown mass suicide in 1978 or the Heaven’s Gate people in San Diego, who thought that a passing comet was their salvation in 1997. 

Gospel: Luke 19: 1-10

Jesus approached the conclusion of His journey to Jerusalem.  Jericho was at the base of the trail that led up to Jerusalem.  It was a steep climb.

Zacchaeus “was seeking to see who Jesus was.”  He had to make an effort to achieve His goal.  He ran ahead and climbed a tree.  He found more than what he sought.  Jesus offered to come to the house of Zacchaeus.  He made no preconditions or demands.

One later tradition has identified Zacchaeus as the future Bishop of Caesarea, who was appointed by Peter.  Another tradition of Clement of Alexandria identifies him as Matthias, who will be chosen to succeed Judas Iscariot in the Acts of the Apostles.

In this passage, he is “short in stature.”  He was also looked down upon socially by those who described him as “a sinner.”  Only Jesus “looked up” and spoke to him.  Jesus is the first and last to speak in this story.  Zacchaeus had to come down.  He also had to face the charges of being called a sinner.  He gives away half of his fortune “to the poor,” the people who receive special focus in the Gospel of Luke.  Zacchaeus gave no conditions for his generosity.  He added more in repayment of what he may have extorted from others.  Literally, he said that he would repay that which he had “shaken down” from anyone.  Fourfold restitution, “four sheep for the one [stolen] sheep,” is commanded in Ex 21:37.  Just as Jesus would announce to “a criminal” who was crucified next to Jesus, Jesus said, “Today. . .”  Before anything is done, the presence of Jesus brings about what He promised.  Jesus’ response to the declaration of Zacchaeus alludes to Ez 34:16: “The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back. . .”

In the preceding incident in Jericho, Jesus healed a blind beggar, who asked to see.  The man addressed Jesus as “Son of David.”  This chapter from the Book of Ezekiel refers to both the “Son of Man” (Ez 34:1) and the “Son of David” (Ez 34:23-24).  It appears that this chapter is a backdrop to these two incidents at Jericho.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd, a leader of the people, as He begins his climb to Jerusalem and the Cross.  Despite his faults, Zacchaeus was still “a descendant of Abraham.”  The word “house” appears three time in this story, suggesting that this lesson is for others, who find themselves in the same condition as Zacchaeus.

I celebrated a funeral of someone recently, who had been alienated from his son for many years.  It deeply troubled him and his wife, that they did not see him or his family.  He did not come to their home.  They lived many miles apart.  It was long forgotten, whatever caused the split.  But while he was in the stage of dying, his son came to his bedside.  That is all that it took.  What was lost, was now found.  No “big deal” was made about the incident at the funeral, but the whole family felt this reconciliation.  It made the death of their husband, their father and grandfather even more powerful, more profound.  When someone is “lost” to a family, there is something missing in its wholeness, in its happiness.  I think that he waited before dying, so that he could see this sign of salvation.  From the testimony of those who were with him when he died, I learned that he died very peacefully in the world here and hereafter.

Jesus is present when we come down or come back.  His spirit breathes hope that opens opportunities for us to take, if we are willing to look for them.

Fr. Richard C. Macey is pastor of Our Lady of the Woods Parish, Woodhaven.