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Homilies - Bishop Brendan Leahy

Year C: Thirty-first Sunday. Holy Rosary Parish

Year C: 31st Sunday. Holy Rosary Parish: Homily Notes

Children preparing to make their First Communion often learn the Zaccheus song. Certainly, a few years ago it was a big hit among the children. They sing the song with great gusto. I’ve always enjoying visiting Communion classes listening to the song.

Zacchaeus was a greedy little man,
He cheated all the people in the land.
When the rent they couldn’t pay,
He would take their farms away
Or their furniture and ev’rything they had…

And then the chorus:

Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus, nobody liked Zacchaeus,
Zacchaeus was a greedy little man. (the children would sing this out with great emphasis).

The verses go on and each chorus there’s a slight change:

Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus, nobody liked Zacchaeus,

Zacchaeus was a LONELY little man.
 

Then we get the verse:

 Then Jesus came along that very way,
And, full of love, the people heard him say,
To Zacchaeus in the tree,
‘Will you please come down to me,
For I’d love to share a meal with you today.’

And another chorus:

Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus, nobody liked Zacchaeus,
Zacchaeus was a PUZZLED little man.

And then the last verse:

But Zacchaeus was surprised at what he said
That one so great should want to share his bread
So he climbed down from the tree
Asking Jesus home for tea;
No more loneliness, but love and joy instead

This time the chorus finishes:

Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus, everyone liked Zacchaeus.
Zacchaeus was a HUMBLE little man.

A great song. It says it all. Yes, Zaccheus was a lonely man. Known as a rich man (the implication is that he was corrupt) and collaborator with a foreign oppressive regime, nobody engaged with Zaccheus. Jesus comes along and sees him. Jesus sees into the heart. Zaccheus might indeed be all the things people are saying about him, but Jesus sees he is a seeker, he’s looking for something, he’s searching. Despite his official position he was humble enough to climb up the tree. Jesus sees that yes he might be rich financially, but more importantly he has a wealth of inner resources and potential. And that’s what Jesus in his loving encounter with Zaccheus draws out of him. Jesus’ love brings about a conversion in Zaccheus. And this conversion in Zaccheus is seen in the fact that he is filled with joy and that he becomes generous, wanting to share.

Maybe we can take away two messages for ourselves.

First, we can imitate Jesus in the way we look at things. We don’t deny reality, but the glance of Jesus, put into us by the Holy Spirit helps us, goes beyond what everyone is saying about situations and people, and sees potential. We are to be spiritual optimists because as the First Reading puts it, the love of God’s heart is always at work in our world, prompting new initiatives. I like very much Pope Francis’ comment: “we need to look at our cities with a contemplative gaze, a gaze of faith which sees God dwelling in our homes, in our streets and squares. God’s presence accompanies the sincere efforts of individuals and groups to find encouragement and meaning in their lives. He dwells . justice. This presence must…found, uncovered. God does not hide himself from those who seek him with a sincere heart, even though they do so tentatively, in a vague and haphazard manner.” So, that’s a first message. Have a contemplative gaze that sees potential.

Second, conversion comes from encounter with Jesus. Our love can prompt conversion in others. I heard of two people during the week who had been estranged. One of them had really tried to keep on loving, keeping the door open. Now that the other person is facing death, he has to see this other person and be reconciled. Love generates conversion and brings the salvation that we all hope for ultimately in heaven.

But, and this is the last point, salvation isn’t just about the next life. For Zaccheus it arrived that day of encounter with Jesus. It arrives for each of us in some small way each day through our life of faith, prayer, love. How can we know if salvation is reaching us? Well, we can never know fully until the next life, but we can already get glimpses of salvation in us if we see generosity in our lives, a desire to share, a joy that comes from knowing God is very close, God knows us, God loves us, we are important to God.

Yes, each of us should be able to sing the last line of the Zaccheus song: No more loneliness, but love and joy instead.