Friar’s Corner: The forgiving love of Jesus
Wisdom 11:22-12:2; Psalm 145:1-2, 8-11, 13, 14; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-2:2; Luke 19:1-10
Each Sunday we have a choice of two themes. This week we look at Jesus’ forgiving love for sinners. The following is what my seminary scripture professor said about this week’s readings, “To Seek and to Save.”
The reading from Wisdom today teaches that everything that comes from the hand of God is good. What is true of creation, in general, is especially true of God’s human children. In forgiving sin, God is aware of those positive qualities. In the amusing account of Zacchaeus’ determined and enterprising spirit. Jesus sees in the disreputable tax collector an inherent goodness, which is not to be lost. Once converted, the Christian grows in holiness by God’s power as the image of God becomes increasingly visible. Paul reminds the Thessalonians of the need to pass from good intentions to accomplishment through God’s grace.
As we read the creation accounts in the Book of Genesis, everything that God made, in all the vastness of the universe, was good. For us here on earth, that was true until the sneaky snake (satan) approached Eve and Adam to do the one thing God commanded them not to do. They ate the apple. Then our human nature was damaged and we all inherited a fallen human nature. That is why God’s Son was sent to earth to repair that damage and offer humanity a solution for that first wrong. We see the result of evil all around us each day in the news. How can the third largest religious group on earth kill thousands of fellow humans because they won’t follow their narrow ideology? Is that what God wants? I don’t think so. We can also think of the doctors who kill developing children in Planned Parenthood clinics daily.
Zacchaeus
The Zacchaeus story in today’s gospel is only found in St. Luke. When you study the introduction of St. Luke’s gospel, this story is one of his major themes as was the humble prayer of the tax collector last Sunday. Our God is a forgiving God if we approach him humbly and with a repentant spirit. Jesus said to St. Faustina in his Divine Mercy messages to the world, that the greatest sinner, if he or she repents of their sins, is entitled to his love and forgiveness.
The job of a Roman tax collector in Biblical times, even if the person was a Jew, paid the Roman government a certain tax for each person. The government did not give them a salary for their work. The tax collectors added to the tax for their salary. That addition was not always just. They often lived very well. So Jews did not like tax collectors.
We can be sure that Zacchaeus had heard many wonderful stories of Jesus’ healing and teaching. He was curious and wanted to see Jesus. Being short and not able to see above the crowd, he climbed a tree wanting to see Jesus. I have always loved this story. As Jesus passed by, he saw Zack up there in the tree. He read his good heart, motioned with his finger and said, “Zacchaeus come down. I want to come to your house today.” A good, law-abiding Jew, would never have gone to the house of a sinner. When Jesus and a sinner meet, something wonderful and amazing happens. Jesus forgives their sins and pierces that person with his love. Human life then moves from sin to salvation. Amazing grace.
Glow
As we frequently read the Gospel stories, the Holy Spirit enlightens our mind and our life begins to change. If you are reading Joy Alive, I know that you have met Jesus. Each day when we spend a little time with Jesus, we get our battery charged with his love and grace. We leave our prayer time, at Mass or from our personal prayer time, and we go into the world glowing with a little more of Christ’s love.
Ask Jesus to increase his radiance in you so you too can glow with divine light in the world. This makes others receive God’s love through you.
Have a glowing week,
(© 2019 Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR)
