If we could have a conversation with Zaccheus, he would remind us that conversion doesn't have to be gloom, doom and a hard slog. In today's Gospel, we see both him and Jesus at play and the changes this can bring.
In his trilogy, John Shea writes the story beautifully. Another time, when Jesus was on His way from Jericho to Jerusalem, A dwarf of a tax collector, Zaccheus by name, whose eyes were as tarnished as two Roman coins, and whose hands were no bigger than a stolen purse, climbed a tree to spy Jesus. But Jesus spied him and said, Zaccheus, hurry down, I will eat with you tonight. Now, who is the host and who is the guest when the one invited in turn invites? And what can happen at such a meal? Can more than bread be shared? Can more than wine be drunk? The story says that later the same day Zaccheus reached into the centre of his soul and found a rusty key which he used to unlock the strongboxes that held the wealth of his people. Later that day, a taller Zaccheus returned what the smaller one had stolen.
0 Comments
Luke's Gospel speaks clearly about and to those who live their life in a twisted way. These are people who only trust in themselves (self-righteous) and who need to hold others in contempt to bolster their own fragile egos. Today's Parable suggest another way of living.
The Pharisee at prayer is a wonder to behold. His prayer separates him from everyone else and creates fertile conditions for his contempt. The tax collector, on the other hand, takes the opposite way - hoping to touch and feel Gods Mercy. Both need it, but only one has the wisdom to ask for it. Thomas Merton puts it beautifully in his 'Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander' p.156-157' "In Louisville, at the corner of fourth and walnut, in the centre of the shopping district, I was suddenly overwhelmed by the realisation that I loved all these people, that they were mine and I was theirs ..... It is a glorious thing to be a member of the human race, though it is a race dedicated to many absurdities and one which makes terrible mistakes; yet, with all that, God Himself gloried in becoming a member of the human race. A member of the human race! Once we know that we are absurd and that we make terrible mistakes, a door opens that remains closed to the ones who don't know. We must be poor enough in spirit to receive the gift. God pours herself into empty vessels. Divine, unconditional love is unleashed the moment we stop trying to save ourselves. This might be why dying is so vital to the journey. But it was Teresa of Avila who captured this beautifully, when in 'Divine Sparks' (p.206) she wrote, "Humility is the Queen without whom none can checkmate the divine King." If anyone tells you this parable is just a teaching about prayer - don't believe them! To understand it, we must ponder it in its fullness. It is a teaching about 'praying always' to God and not 'losing heart' when it comes to wearing down injustice. It is about not losing the holy ground in our quest to right what is wrong.
|
Father DannyArchives
November 2020
Categories |
CATHOLIC PARISH OF ST JOSEPH & ST MARGARET CLITHEROW
St Joseph’s Church. 39 Braccan Walk, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 1HA (Directions)
Tel: 01344 425729
Email: stjb@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk
South Berkshire Pastoral Area
The parish is part of the Diocese of Portsmouth.
Portsmouth Roman Catholic Diocesan Trust registered charity 246871
St Joseph’s Church. 39 Braccan Walk, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 1HA (Directions)
Tel: 01344 425729
Email: stjb@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk
South Berkshire Pastoral Area
The parish is part of the Diocese of Portsmouth.
Portsmouth Roman Catholic Diocesan Trust registered charity 246871