Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: 31st

Tuesday of Week 31 Year 1

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When we are invited to a free feast or grand function by a celebrity or royalty, many people may rush to attend, since this would be an opportunity to get a glimpse of the celebrity or royalty and possibly rub shoulders with them. However, it seems strange that when we are invited to a free feast at the Lord’s supper each day, not many people are “rushing” to dine with the King of kings, Lord of lords.

This is basically the gist of today’s Gospel. Some of us are so anxious to be at a feast or function by a human celebrity or human royalty, but few of us are anxious to dine with our Divine Celebrity and Divine Royalty. Seems ironic that some of us are focusing more on the temporary here on earth. Are some of us forgetting our ultimate goal in life, i.e. to be with our loving God?

Monday of Week 31 Year 1

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When we organise a party or big “makan” (that’s big meal, for those of you who do not understand Malay), we may be inclined to invite our friends, relatives, loved ones, people whom we like and get along with. There seems nothing wrong with inviting these sorts of people, especially since we find it easier and meaningful to be among people we are familiar with.

But Jesus in today’s Gospel is cautioning us to come out of our comfort zone and be more inclusive and open towards others, not just people we are familiar with. When we are more open towards others, we begin to learn the sort of loving God we have, who loves all without favour. It is in this way that we discover that we are “fortunate, because repayment will be made to you when the virtuous rise again.”

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

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Some people are physically short. When they talk to others, they often need to look up so that the other party can not only hear what they have to say, but also get cues from their facial and bodily expression. Some people are emotionally short. They feel as if they are not good, not important, not capable, etc., and they try to attain wealth and power to compensate their low self-esteem. Other people may be spiritually short. They feel as if God is not caring or loving enough, and some think God has abandoned them, especially when prayers are continuously unanswered or when they are faced with a crisis.

Zaccheaus in today’s Gospel appears, to a certain extend, to fit in these 3 categories. He is not only physically short, but possible feeling small both emotionally and spiritually, on how he sees himself and how he perceived others seeing him. Zaccheaus climbed the sycamore tree so that he could see Jesus. By doing so, he thought he could place himself at a same or higher level with others. We too may have done this at times through various means, hoping that people would accept and respect us. But by doing so, like Zaccheaus, we may only experience more rejection or alienation.

People did not bother about Zaccheaus, but Jesus did. Jesus called Zaccheaus to come down from his tree of insecurity and unites him back to the community. By doing so, Jesus helped Zaccheaus to experience God’s love and restore his dignity. When we sin, we may feel that we have lost our dignity and acceptance in our community. We may feel ashamed and inadequate, and may have made and continue to make mistakes. But God still love us, and wants us to come back to Him. The question is: are we willing to humbly and joyfully accept and dwell in His love?