Homily For The 31st Sunday In The Ordinary Time. Year C. October 30, 2022
“Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.”
“Otherwise, Grace is no more Grace, since it is bestowed on us, not because we have done good works, but that we may be able to do them.”. – St. Augustine
My Dearest Friends,
The readings of today, especially the Gospel, remind us of the transforming power of the Grace of God, Who came to save sinners. The readings also remind us how this Grace produces the fruit of repentance in the lives of those that encounter Christ.
It sometimes seems that many Christians today “the more they go to church the more hardened sinners they become.” Why I chose the theme of today’s reflection as a “graceful and transforming encounter” is that the story of Zacchaeus demonstrates the transforming power of an encounter with the Grace of God. With us also, encountering God should make us better people and produce fruits of repentance. The story of Zacchaeus reminds us of two motivating factors, namely: “curiosity” and “desire”. When people are curious about something, they can go to any length to discover or experience it; likewise when they are desirous of something. Zaccheus in today’s Gospel was desirous of seeing Jesus either because of curiosity or most likely he had not been altogether happy with his practice of extorting undue tax money from people and his conscience was ill at ease.
Many have tried a variety of drugs, alcohol, infidelity, and the like. They eventually found out that those lifestyles are meaningless and hollow. They sensed that there must be more to life than what they are experiencing and deep down within, they wanted some answers.
Despite his wealthy status, Zacchaeus humbled himself to climb a sycamore tree. His short stature was also another reason he climbed the tree. It is belittling for a wealthy man of his caliber to climb a tree, so that might have been an act of humility in Zacchaeus. It is an indication of his deep desire for something greater than his wealth.
Zacchaeus is an example of overcoming barriers to encountering God. Your barriers could be family, relationships, culture, work, or anything that keeps you from drawing closer to God. When you form the habit of giving endless excuses for not drawing closer to God, you are simply asserting insincerity and a lack of seriousness in becoming closer to God. You can break any barrier to worship and come into the Presence of God as Zacchaeus has shown us. He didn’t allow his stature to be a barrier. So do not allow your looks nor anything to hinder you from coming into the Presence of God.
Zacchaeus encountered Grace. Grace located him. He simply made himself available to be located ( seen) and Jesus located him! A person has to make himself or herself available to be touched by God. Grace locates those who seek it. It is a gift of God not merited by human efforts.
The fruit of God’s Grace is its transforming power. It builds on nature and elevates the natural into the spiritual realm; such that a man or woman ceases to be a natural being and is transformed into a spiritual being. In the life of Zacchaeus, it was a transformation from a sinful tax collector to a repentant sinner. Those who come close to God are transformed by His redeeming Grace.
Jesus welcomes sinners and does not isolate them. This idea is captured in the first reading which says: “O Lord and lover of the soul…, You rebuke offenders little by little, warn them and remind them of the sins they are committing, that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in You, O Lord!” Turning away from sin and wickedness is what the Grace of God should produce in the lives of those who encounter Jesus. His Grace redeems us from sin and strengthens us in righteousness and good deeds.
Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus who summoned him down from the tree, evoked a sense of repentance and gratitude in him. He didn’t say, Lord, forgive me I am a sinner, but confessed inwardly and demonstrated it in his words when he said: “Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor” (v. 8a). Remember that in Luke 18:22 Jesus asked the rich man to sell his possessions and to give them to the poor, but in the case of Zacchaeus, He asks nothing but his hospitality. Zacchaeus volunteers to give half of his wealth to the poor and to make fourfold restitution to anyone whom he has defrauded. Zacchaeus does not make this offer to win Jesus’ approval but to show his gratitude. He is not trying to win salvation but is instead responding to the Presence of the Savior. He is bearing “fruits worthy of repentance.”(3:8)
As this year draws to an end, many in business and public offices are struggling to meet up with their financial goals before Christmas festivities. Therefore, this is a “temptation peak time” for many to cheat and defraud others to make ends meet. Here today, we see a tax collector returning what he unjustly took from others. Your daily encounter with Jesus may not be as dramatic as that of Zacchaeus, but you can also decide to avoid extorting, cheating or defrauding others this season to make ends meet. Be happy with what you have. “He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.”
— Socrates
May God’s daily encounter with Jesus, especially in the Eucharist, produce fruits of repentance and transform us to be better children of God. St. Paul said, “I am what I am only by the Grace of God and the Grace of God in me was never in vain.” May your Grace too, never be in vain.
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
Prayer: My dearest Saviour, you came to call sinners like myself back to You. Fill me with your transforming Grace and let your Grace produce fruits of sincere repentance in my life. Amen
I keep you and your family always in my prayers. ©Clem C. Aladi (2024)
