Opening Prayer

Lord, grant that I may see you more clearly,
love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly,
day by day.

Scripture

Luke 19:1-10

He entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. 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.” So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”

Reflection

The story of Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector, demonstrates the radical power of encountering Jesus. Despite being a wealthy and despised figure, Zacchaeus’ curiosity leads him to seek out Jesus, who in turn invites Himself into Zacchaeus’ home. This unexpected act of grace prompts Zacchaeus to repent and commit to restitution and generosity. The narrative encourages us to be open to transformative encounters with Christ, recognising that His presence can inspire profound change and lead us to a life of integrity and compassion.

Jesus’ interaction with Zacchaeus challenges societal judgments and stereotypes. While others view Zacchaeus solely as a sinner and traitor, Jesus sees his potential for goodness and redemption. This perspective invites us to look beyond people’s outward labels and past actions, recognising their inherent worth and potential for change. By adopting Jesus’ approach of seeing the real person behind the public image, we can foster a more compassionate and just community where everyone is given the opportunity to grow and be transformed by God’s love.

Contemplation

I take a few moments to imagine the scene from the Gospel story I just read. I let the words come alive in my heart. I visualise the event as if I was there and part of the story. I pay attention to all the details, the sights, the sounds, the tastes, the smells, and the feelings of the event. I imagine myself as one of the characters in the scene or as myself present in the story. What message does Jesus have for me? How is God speaking to me personally through this story? I open my heart to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

Thanksgiving

I ask God, the Father, to give me an intimate knowledge of the many gifts I have received,
so that filled with gratitude for all, I may in all things love and serve the Divine Majesty.

Fellow Pilgrims

Do not put off till tomorrow the good you can do today. You may not have a tomorrow.

– Saint John Bosco

Closing Prayer

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Amen.