Homily Thirty-first Sunday. Year C - Sunday, November 3, 2019
Wisdom 11:22-12:2;
Psalm: I will praise your name forever my king and my God
2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2;
Alleluia, alleluia! God loved the world so much, he gave his only Son. That all who believe in him might have eternal life.
Luke 19:1-10
Wisdom 11:22-12:2;
Psalm: I will praise your name forever my king and my God
2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2;
Alleluia, alleluia! God loved the world so much, he gave his only Son. That all who believe in him might have eternal life.
Luke 19:1-10
IMAGE: By rudall30 stock vector images ID: 1458778802
Biblical vector illustration series, Zacchaeus climbed up into a sycamore tree to have a better view of Jesus. Licensed by Shutterstock.
++++
Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Thirty-first Sunday. Year C - Sunday, November 3 2019, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/31c-faith-hope-and-love-ep-186/s-1IdFn (EPISODE: 186)
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Homily Thirty-first Sunday. Year C -
…
prologue:
In the first reading this weekend, we have an excellent key to the reason God deals with us the way he does, in relation to our sins and mistakes.... The Lord "overlooks people's sins, so that they may repent....For you love all things that exist, ....{and} .... you correct little by little those who trespass,
and you remind and warn them of the things through which they sin,
so that they may be freed from wickedness and put their trust in you."
The Gospel puts this message into action. Our Lord shows us that ostracising or rejecting and shunning people who have sinned doesn't work. In fact it often reinforces them in their sin, as they are left nowhere else to go. Our Lord sought out, associated with and ate with sinners ... he shows us that all people are God's beloved children... and the Lord only shows us our faults and errors not so that we would lose hope but so that we can see where we are going wrong and turn back to the Lord who loves us so much. Jesus wants us to have the same compassionate and constructive approach to others who have gone down dead-end paths.... he comes near to those who have strayed and invites them to re-connect him. How else could anyone be saved if they are not given the opportunity to draw near again?
+++
The gospel for this Sunday offers us one of Luke's most delightful narratives: the story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector.
JERICHO (one of the oldest inhabited cities in history), was known locally as "The City of Palm Trees," and was a very wealthy and important town. The Romans transported its date-fruits and balsam all around the known world. All this made Jericho one of the greatest taxation centres in Palestine.
Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector, and the Jewish people would have loathed him because he was seen as collaborating with the ruling Romans by collecting their taxes for them. He was a rich man in a very rich and prosperous area. And much of his wealth came from taking more than was fair. And so, he would have been one of the most hated men in the district.
Zacchaeus was wealthy but he was clearly not happy. Inevitably he would have been very lonely, for he had chosen a way that made him an outcast, even if a rich one. He had heard of this Jesus who welcomed tax-collectors and sinners, and he wondered if he would have any word for him. Despised and hated by people, Zacchaeus was already longing for the love and compassion of God.
Zacchaeus is determined to see Jesus and would let nothing stop him. For him, mixing with big crows was a dangerous thing to do. People would certainly use the opportunity of the crush of the crowd to give him an anonymous kick, or push as he moved through the crowd. People would not have been able to resist. Zacchaeus would have been black and blue with bruises that day but he would not give up.
Because he was a short man, he was eager to see Our Lord so much that he did something very undignified for a man with his rank and wealth; he climbed a tree, just like an eager child. A Sycamore tree, with its short trunk and very wide branches in all directions, was a fairly easy tree to climb.
When Our Lord stopped at the tree and looked up, the crowd would surely have laughed at Zacchaeus and mocked him and awaited what they thought would be a scene where Jesus stood there and told him off for his dishonesty and lack of generosity. If they were expecting Our Lord to berate and condemn him, they must have been absolutely astounded when, instead, Our Lord spoke kindly to him and said to him, "hurry down, I must stay at your house tonight."
We notice that Jesus is the one who invites Zacchaeus to open the door. The initiative (as always), comes from Our Lord - - and Zacchaeus responds eagerly. Zacchaeus accepts Jesus' invitation and, rising to his feet, also rises to the occasion, by promising to give half of his possessions to the poor and to pay back those who have been victimized by his greed and dishonesty and collusion with the hated Romans. Jesus' action of reaching out to this outcast and sinner has a profound impact on Zacchaeus' lifestyle: He is changed into a person of generosity and justice.
There is something else really astounding here about this. Zacchaeus could have stopped at just giving what Jewish law required of fraudulent crimes like this. According to the Book of Leviticus (6: 5) and the Book of Numbers (5: 7), he only needed to repay the value plus 1/5th of the value. So he was saying, I am not hiding behind the minimal requirements of the letter of law. I am going to act justly and generously and go far beyond what is demanded. How utterly changed he had become. By Our Lord refusing to reject him and ostracise him, and by giving him space and kindness, this sinful man was given the room to repent and be transformed.
Of course, Our Lord expects not just a change of words, but also words backed up by practical actions.
Finally, Jesus reminds us that being a true son or daughter of Abraham is not a matter of inheritance, race, or culture. Being a true member of God's family is a response to God's invitation by practical actions, as stated in the second reading this weekend, (2 Thes 1:11).
Zacchaeus (and all of us) are called to be "lovers of life," as the book of Wisdom beautifully puts it, (11:26). The God of our faith is the one who always forgives and who wants all people to put their trust in him, (Wis 12:2). This trust is well placed.
+++++
References:
Thanks to an extensive quotation from these two sources, for this week's homily.
• SHARING THE WORD THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR. GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ.
• THE DAILY STUDY BIBLE. GOSPEL OF LUKE. (REVISED EDITION). BY WILLIAM BARCLAY.
• FR. PAUL W. KELLY
IMAGE: By rudall30 stock vector images ID: 1458778802
Biblical vector illustration series, Zacchaeus climbed up into a sycamore tree to have a better view of Jesus. Licensed by Shutterstock.
+++
Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love, A time of Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul W. Kelly
Prayers and chants from the English Translation of the Roman Missal, edition three, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)
Scriptures from the New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, revised - 2009.
"The Psalms: A New Translation" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers
Prayers of the Faithful - from Robert Borg'. " Together we pray". E.J. Dwyer, publishers, Australia (1993)
{ "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -Composed and Sung by Jeffrey M. Ostrowski Featuring the….Gloria, copyright 2011 ccwatershed.org
"Faith, Hope and Love" hymn - dedicated to William J Kelly - Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, set to original music Paul W. Kelly. (c) 1996. Updated lyrics by Paul Kelly and Stefan Kelk, with new arrangement and vocals by S. Kelk. 2019.
for more information- homilycatholic.blogspot.com
Production - Kelly Enterprises Resources.
May God bless and keep you.
Thirty-first Sunday. Year C
(Sunday, November 3, 2019)
(EPISODE: 186 )
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
+++++++++++++
{{Peace and Patience to you all}}
Our Gods love and mercy knows no bounds, and so let us recall our sins so as to worthily celebrate this Holy Sacrifice.?
Lord Jesus, you are the image of the unseen God: Lord, have mercy.//You are the firstborn of all creation: Christ, have mercy//You are the head of the body, the Church: Lord, have mercy//
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
+++++++++++++++++++++
Memorial Acclamation
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SUNDAYS I
Eucharistic Prayer II
Communion side. pwk: LH
++++
{Many thanks for participating in this time of praise and reflection upon our loving God.}
Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.
Biblical vector illustration series, Zacchaeus climbed up into a sycamore tree to have a better view of Jesus. Licensed by Shutterstock.
++++
Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Thirty-first Sunday. Year C - Sunday, November 3 2019, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/31c-faith-hope-and-love-ep-186/s-1IdFn (EPISODE: 186)
+++++
Homily Thirty-first Sunday. Year C -
…
prologue:
In the first reading this weekend, we have an excellent key to the reason God deals with us the way he does, in relation to our sins and mistakes.... The Lord "overlooks people's sins, so that they may repent....For you love all things that exist, ....{and} .... you correct little by little those who trespass,
and you remind and warn them of the things through which they sin,
so that they may be freed from wickedness and put their trust in you."
The Gospel puts this message into action. Our Lord shows us that ostracising or rejecting and shunning people who have sinned doesn't work. In fact it often reinforces them in their sin, as they are left nowhere else to go. Our Lord sought out, associated with and ate with sinners ... he shows us that all people are God's beloved children... and the Lord only shows us our faults and errors not so that we would lose hope but so that we can see where we are going wrong and turn back to the Lord who loves us so much. Jesus wants us to have the same compassionate and constructive approach to others who have gone down dead-end paths.... he comes near to those who have strayed and invites them to re-connect him. How else could anyone be saved if they are not given the opportunity to draw near again?
+++
The gospel for this Sunday offers us one of Luke's most delightful narratives: the story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector.
JERICHO (one of the oldest inhabited cities in history), was known locally as "The City of Palm Trees," and was a very wealthy and important town. The Romans transported its date-fruits and balsam all around the known world. All this made Jericho one of the greatest taxation centres in Palestine.
Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector, and the Jewish people would have loathed him because he was seen as collaborating with the ruling Romans by collecting their taxes for them. He was a rich man in a very rich and prosperous area. And much of his wealth came from taking more than was fair. And so, he would have been one of the most hated men in the district.
Zacchaeus was wealthy but he was clearly not happy. Inevitably he would have been very lonely, for he had chosen a way that made him an outcast, even if a rich one. He had heard of this Jesus who welcomed tax-collectors and sinners, and he wondered if he would have any word for him. Despised and hated by people, Zacchaeus was already longing for the love and compassion of God.
Zacchaeus is determined to see Jesus and would let nothing stop him. For him, mixing with big crows was a dangerous thing to do. People would certainly use the opportunity of the crush of the crowd to give him an anonymous kick, or push as he moved through the crowd. People would not have been able to resist. Zacchaeus would have been black and blue with bruises that day but he would not give up.
Because he was a short man, he was eager to see Our Lord so much that he did something very undignified for a man with his rank and wealth; he climbed a tree, just like an eager child. A Sycamore tree, with its short trunk and very wide branches in all directions, was a fairly easy tree to climb.
When Our Lord stopped at the tree and looked up, the crowd would surely have laughed at Zacchaeus and mocked him and awaited what they thought would be a scene where Jesus stood there and told him off for his dishonesty and lack of generosity. If they were expecting Our Lord to berate and condemn him, they must have been absolutely astounded when, instead, Our Lord spoke kindly to him and said to him, "hurry down, I must stay at your house tonight."
We notice that Jesus is the one who invites Zacchaeus to open the door. The initiative (as always), comes from Our Lord - - and Zacchaeus responds eagerly. Zacchaeus accepts Jesus' invitation and, rising to his feet, also rises to the occasion, by promising to give half of his possessions to the poor and to pay back those who have been victimized by his greed and dishonesty and collusion with the hated Romans. Jesus' action of reaching out to this outcast and sinner has a profound impact on Zacchaeus' lifestyle: He is changed into a person of generosity and justice.
There is something else really astounding here about this. Zacchaeus could have stopped at just giving what Jewish law required of fraudulent crimes like this. According to the Book of Leviticus (6: 5) and the Book of Numbers (5: 7), he only needed to repay the value plus 1/5th of the value. So he was saying, I am not hiding behind the minimal requirements of the letter of law. I am going to act justly and generously and go far beyond what is demanded. How utterly changed he had become. By Our Lord refusing to reject him and ostracise him, and by giving him space and kindness, this sinful man was given the room to repent and be transformed.
Of course, Our Lord expects not just a change of words, but also words backed up by practical actions.
Finally, Jesus reminds us that being a true son or daughter of Abraham is not a matter of inheritance, race, or culture. Being a true member of God's family is a response to God's invitation by practical actions, as stated in the second reading this weekend, (2 Thes 1:11).
Zacchaeus (and all of us) are called to be "lovers of life," as the book of Wisdom beautifully puts it, (11:26). The God of our faith is the one who always forgives and who wants all people to put their trust in him, (Wis 12:2). This trust is well placed.
+++++
References:
Thanks to an extensive quotation from these two sources, for this week's homily.
• SHARING THE WORD THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR. GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ.
• THE DAILY STUDY BIBLE. GOSPEL OF LUKE. (REVISED EDITION). BY WILLIAM BARCLAY.
• FR. PAUL W. KELLY
IMAGE: By rudall30 stock vector images ID: 1458778802
Biblical vector illustration series, Zacchaeus climbed up into a sycamore tree to have a better view of Jesus. Licensed by Shutterstock.
+++
Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love, A time of Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul W. Kelly
Prayers and chants from the English Translation of the Roman Missal, edition three, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)
Scriptures from the New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, revised - 2009.
"The Psalms: A New Translation" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers
Prayers of the Faithful - from Robert Borg'. " Together we pray". E.J. Dwyer, publishers, Australia (1993)
{ "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -Composed and Sung by Jeffrey M. Ostrowski Featuring the….Gloria, copyright 2011 ccwatershed.org
"Faith, Hope and Love" hymn - dedicated to William J Kelly - Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, set to original music Paul W. Kelly. (c) 1996. Updated lyrics by Paul Kelly and Stefan Kelk, with new arrangement and vocals by S. Kelk. 2019.
for more information- homilycatholic.blogspot.com
Production - Kelly Enterprises Resources.
May God bless and keep you.
Thirty-first Sunday. Year C
(Sunday, November 3, 2019)
(EPISODE: 186 )
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
+++++++++++++
{{Peace and Patience to you all}}
Our Gods love and mercy knows no bounds, and so let us recall our sins so as to worthily celebrate this Holy Sacrifice.?
Lord Jesus, you are the image of the unseen God: Lord, have mercy.//You are the firstborn of all creation: Christ, have mercy//You are the head of the body, the Church: Lord, have mercy//
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
+++++++++++++++++++++
Memorial Acclamation
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SUNDAYS I
Eucharistic Prayer II
Communion side. pwk: LH
++++
{Many thanks for participating in this time of praise and reflection upon our loving God.}
Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.
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