31st Sunday 2016

Wisdom 11:22-12:2
2 Thes 1:11-2:2
Luke 19:1-10

The reading from Wisdom suggests for us what God’s attitude is towards humanity. He creates it and loves what He creates. “Gods creatures are good. Only their choice of sin keeps them from God, who does not punish immediately. The purpose of the Lord’s mercy is repentance, not vengeance (1).” God shows love and mercy to all people; despite our falls and failings, the Lord does not despair. In fact, it implies God views our sin not as a problem, but as an open door to express His love and mercy.

The Lord’s joy and enthusiasm suggests the attitude we are encouraged to have towards humanity. Religion does not require an emotional monotone but downright exuberance balanced with patient hope.

Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians is also concerned with human goodness. “It is up to God to count someone as worthy, just as it is God who fulfills by his power every good resolve and work of faith (2).” The second reading, shares the belief that good comes from grace, from God and for His purpose. It is given or stated in the context of a thanksgiving prayer. The consequence of God’s attitude towards humanity is His willingness to turn our good intentions and efforts into efficacious good.

While Zacchaeus is desperately finding a way to get close to Jesus, Jesus is seeking him out as well. “Get down quickly.” This suggests mutual excitement, anticipation and zeal on the part of both men. “There is the usual murmuring. But the breach of decorum is even worse this time because Jesus does not wait to be invited to the tax collectors house. He invites himself (3).” Jesus’ attitude towards Zacchaeus is full of enthusiastic hope that goodness can prevail.

Jesus is not only willing to bestow this grace but He searches for opportunities to do so. He’s looking for the lost, seeking, hunting for the lost. According to Barclay, “In the New Testament, the word lost does not mean damned or doomed. A thing is lost when it has got out of its own place into the wrong place and when we find such a thing we return it to the place to should occupy.” The Hound of Heaven believes so much in human goodness that He ‘hunts’ for us, proactively, to give us the opportunity to turn to Him. When we do so, we are capable of fulfilling our role as a doer of good.

Journal Questions:

Discuss the following question: Do you think humanity is basically good? Recall moments and incidents which inform your belief.
Recall a time when you have been physically lost, another when you were emotionally or cognitively lost, and a third when you were spiritually lost. Explore the similarities between the incidents.

References:

1-The Collegeville Bible Commentary, Old Testament. The Order of St. Benedict, Inc., Collegeville, Minnesota, 1992.

2- New Interpreter’s Bible One Volume Commentary. Abingdon Press, Nashville, Tennessee, 2010.

3- The Gospel of Luke, Hahn, Scott and Curtis Mitch. Ignatius Catholic Bible Study, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, 2001.

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