Gospel: Luke 19:1-10. Find it in your Bible, or missal, or click here for Mass Readings for this Sunday:

DENTURES LOST IN CROWD!

( And where am I ? )

ZACCHAEUS  was the ‘capo’, the god-father in the town. Nobody liked Zacchaeus.

BUT:

This lonely, unloved man wanted to see what kind of person Jesus was.

He couldn’t because of the crowd.

He climbed above the crowd to catch a glimpse of Jesus. Why?

Because he knew that Jesus was going to pass that way.

Do you want to see what kind of person Jesus is?

Is the crowd around you, the company you keep, preventing you from seeing Jesus?

If you really want to see what kind of person Jesus is, can you take time to step out of the crowd?

Do you know that Jesus is passing by, this moment, in your life?

Or are you in the crowd? Are you preventing others around you from seeing Jesus? Do you hide the person of Jesus, when others want to see him?

And now, you’re Zacchaeus! You’re looking for Jesus, curious about him. Next thing, you hear him calling your name. He’s telling you to come down from your high perch, because he wants to sit down with you in the heart of your own home (or is it in the home of your own heart?).  When you hear him saying your name, your false teeth jump out with surprise! You take a leap, and there you are standing on the ground, face to face with the One you were looking for. You don’t know what to say. But he helps you by telling you that he would love to have a meal in your house (read ‘heart’).

Jump on a bit more. You’re there with your friends, your associates at work, and your neighbours. You’re a changed person. All the cheating you have done, you now tell the Master that you will leave behind, and begin to undo. People you have hurt, you will reach out to them. People you have neglected, you will go to them in love and repentance.

And, at the end, as the Master makes to move on, he smiles and tells you that this is what is really near to his heart, to meet people whose lives have been a mess, people whose hearts are not well, and to reach out and bring them all the healing and forgiveness that they need. ‘The Son of Man (for that’s what he calls himself) has come to seek out and save what was lost.’

That’s us, Folks!  ”He is passing by this moment, your needs to supply. Reach out and touch the Lord, as He goes by”.

Seamus Devitt C.Ss.R.

P.S. If dentures are found, please contact  zach@jesus.com,-  his new ‘server’ (Mark 10:45)  and his new community! 

Click here for ‘Soul Food for Young Adult Communities’ on this Gospel.