XXXI Sunday in Ordinary Time / C
Lectio divina on Lk 19:1-10
Today, this house has come the salvation
Lectio divina on Lk 19:1-10
Today, this house has come the salvation
Invoking
O God, your Son, you came to seek and save the lost, make us worthy of your call: perfects all our will to do good, because we welcome you with joy in our home to share the goods of the earth and sky . Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Read
1Revenue in the city of Jericho and was passing through, 2quand'ecco a man named Zacchaeus, chief tax collector and rich, 3cercava to see who Jesus was, but he could not because of the crowd, because it was small in stature. 4Allora ran ahead and to be able to see him, he climbed a sycamore tree, because he had to pass that way. 5Quando came to the place, Jesus looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house." 6Scese quickly and received him joyfully. 7Vedendo this, they all murmured, "You entered the house of a sinner." 8ma Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord: "Behold, Lord, I give half of what I possess to the poor, and if I stole it from someone back four times so much. " 9Gesù replied, "Today, this house has come the salvation, so too is a son of Abraham. 10The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. "
A moment of silent reflection so that the Word can enter into us and enlighten our lives.
useful steps to meditation
Wis 11, 22-12, 2, Mt 6.33, 13.45, Luke 2.15-16, 7.23, 12.31, 11.9 s, 15.8 , 22.61, Ps 27.8-9, Es 33.18-22, Jn 1.42, 12.21, Mk 10.21, Rev. 3.20.
Understanding
In today's Gospel, we are reaching the end of a long journey that began in Chapter 9 (Lk 9:51). During the trip, no one knew exactly where Jesus went He only knew that was going toward Jerusalem! Now, in the end, geography becomes clear and definite. Jesus came to Jericho, the city of palm trees, in the Jordan Valley. Last stop for the pilgrims, before going to Jerusalem! It was in Jericho where he finished 40 years of the Exodus through the desert. The exodus of Jesus had been completed.
entrance to Jericho, Jesus meets a blind man who wanted to see him (Luke 18:35-43). Now, the edge of town, meets with Zacchaeus, a tax collector: he also wants to see it. A blind man and a publican. The two were excluded. The two disturbed people: a blind man with his cries, the audience with their taxes. The two were greeted by Jesus, each in its own way.
Meditation
v. 1: He entered the city of Jericho and was passing through ... For why Jesus was passing through? The answer is found in verse 10: "The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Here we keep in mind that Jesus had just performed a miracle: it made a blind seer and he comes into Jericho. Jesus takes possession of that city was strong, at the time of Joshua, the entrance to the promised land. The eye closed it is open. The purpose of the journey of Jesus in Jericho was to meet the sinner (in this case Zacchaeus) and save it. But Jesus not only goes in search of Zacchaeus, but every person of every age and every place.
We also are sought to Jesus and asked to respond to evidence of his love. Every desire for goodness is the result of God cares for us and demands an answer, otherwise the box is blocked.
In the company of two of the believers and those who remain with him after being healed, Jesus will start towards the Cross, the place of manifestation of the glory of God in the place less suitable.
vv. 2-3: when suddenly a man named Zacchaeus, chief tax collector and rich, trying to see who Jesus was, but he could not because of the crowd, because it was small in stature. The Evangelist Luke begins to describe Zacchaeus starting man. Does this indicate a person with a personal experience with its own limits, with its own history. The name of this man, Zacchaeus, means "pure," "the innocent" but his life in the social contradicted his name. Fact is presented by Luke as chief tax collector. These were tax collectors, greedy, greedy for money, all cruel, they were called sinners! Zacchaeus belonged to that class, and with the highest qualifications, "chief tax collector" says the Gospel.
The Gospel says that Jesus Zacchaeus wanted to see the text does not say the reasons for this desire. We can read here a difficulty already shown by Jesus: Is it hard for one who has to enter the kingdom of God is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle (Luke 18:25). Zacchaeus is just one of those camels, Skinning a bit ', can pass. It was not just rich, he was also a thief. So Ambrose rightly notes, "who will never despair, even if you come one whose wealth came from cheating?".
Perhaps Zacchaeus wants to go beyond the simple view. He wants to know the identity, the mystery of Jesus Wants to find the light. But could not for the crowd: it is a barrier between Jesus and Zacchaeus. In the original greek
the verb is said to look zetéo which is the Sicilian word "Zitu / zita", which means husband / wife. There is a real passion behind these words between the groom and the bride. This research finally meet you.
The evangelist said that "Zacchaeus was too short." Every man is small and they need somebody to bring it up. St. Paul was too small, says the Latin word that describes it: Paulus that is small.
v. 4: ran ahead and to be able to see him, went up a sycamore tree, because he had to pass that way. The passion to meet Jesus is so strong that Zacchaeus exceeds its limits. The Gospel of Mary "puts" the haste to Zacchi he lets it run. Finding the meaning of life, to find salvation is a basic need for humans: it requires a hurry.
This is done by first knowing and accepting your limits after the solution is: Overcoming the crowd and climbing a tree, which is quite rightly seen as a figure of the Cross, the blind, however, exceeds the crowd shouting his need healing. Each in its own way over the barrier that prevents him from their encounter with Jesus
Usually we go up, we climb up the wrong tree. The Lord longs to meet us, but we do want us to meet him.
The right tree is the "sycamore", symbol of the cross on which Jesus is going to go up to Jerusalem, a sign of humility, humiliation of the Son of God there on that tree which is the cross, in a few days Zaccheo will hang his Lord, there the desire of Zacchaeus to see the Lord of his life will be satisfied. Sale "to view it."
Zacchaeus is the man who has the courage of one's desires, acts in the name of his beliefs, not their fears, and the tree gets its freedom. There is this man
something that goes beyond curiosity, certainly there will be something inside him indefinitely, not meant ... but then again where did Jesus' desire is not only curiosity, so there is curiosity, but also something deeper in the heart: freedom. Freedom is the breath of the Gospel. At the approach of Christ should feel the air of freedom. Not only that after meeting with him and find out what we wanted to come to light. Born then, but only after the true encounter with the real Jesus, conversion and peace.
v. 5: When I came to the place, Jesus looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house. " is not the first time we meet in the Gospel, "place" which in greek is called "Katalyma" which means "rest."
The word is used in this verse, but also to indicate the manger and then, later, the ordeal. The whole life of Jesus from birth to death, is focused on being present where the man in need. Here Zacchaeus in need. Jesus is on the site. The verse shows that the other character: Jesus
"Jesus looked up." Note that it is the same word used for the blind man of Jericho: he also wants to look above. But to look up the implication that one is down here and that someone is Jesus He wants to watch from the bottom up: in fact, he humbled himself to save everyone. Including Zacchaeus unsalvageable. Wanting to remember the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus here draws near, it is next to Zacchaeus. Not by sidestepping.
"Jesus said to him, Zacchaeus," calling him by name, manifests his friend, a friend of small dell'immondo. Do you remember him, the last. Jesus said again, "hurry up": the word is repeated in verse 6 below. Salvation is a serious matter: it requires urgency. The proposal of the Lord is never put off until tomorrow: you said: Get out now! "Get down" but not the great who makes himself small can discover the wonders of the Kingdom of God, Jesus continues: "Today" is the time of salvation.
At other times it is repeated: the birth of Jesus and shortly before his death. "Today thou shalt be with me in paradise." This is repeated in v. 9 to tell us that not tomorrow but today will open for you the path of healing and salvation. "I must stay in your house." The Evangelist John says that the Word of God has pitched his tent among us. And 'that what you want Jesus to dwell among us be in solidarity with us, near our sin, in our death. This is the will of the Heavenly Father.
v. 6: He went down quickly and received him joyfully. When Jesus speaks to the heart that waits for a heart in search of a new hope, the heart is now open. But when the heart is full of himself and things, then it is difficult to listen to the call or the voice of Jesus the man is deaf to his call for love. But Zacchaeus in a hurry, wants to immediately accept the Master. Welcomed: it is the verb used for the reception given to Martha and Mary, is the word love. Zacchaeus imitates God, imitating the Church that welcomes all and does it with the transportation of those who feel saved, joyfully. The mercy of God and suppresses the shortened distances.
v. 7: Seeing this, they all murmured, "You entered the house of a sinner." the call of Jesus is not only surprising but shocking to the Pharisees, but for the whole crowd, the Holy One of God chooses the house of a public sinner, the friend of the poor goes to live in the house of a rich man. All grumbling because they see that Jesus did not tell the difference between the house right where you should enter the house of a sinner, and where no one is permitted to enter a jew. It is a reaction that is registered more than once by the Gospel. Jesus had forewarned them of the rest: "Blessed is he who does not scandalize me" (Lk 7:23). Here is told in greek that went to "stay" term used, as mentioned before, the manger (katalyo) where Jesus was laid by Mary, and lay in the tomb.
The repetition of this verb as the rest, the Adagio is the great desire of Jesus to anyone who seeks to recover from his sin: Jesus wants to dwell there.
v. 8: But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord: "Behold, Lord, I give half of what I possess to the poor, and if I stole it from someone back four times as much." Zaccheus begins a journey of conversion. He does experience of God's free and seems determined to bring order to his life. The conversion of Zacchaeus is radical: he goes beyond the requirements of law in case of theft (Exodus 22, 3-6), did not do what the rich young man. His transformation is not apparent, fictitious facade, its novelty is real and it shows the words with which he presents in his new role. How much owns half the giving to the poor.
Encountering God is transformation of the thought of a way of life. Putting the love of God first in his life, sees it as the basis for Zacchaeus, the meaning and the criterion of their actions. Zacchaeus
choose to repay the damage according to Roman law. No change is explicit in the profession but to understand that now his work place him honestly.
v. 9: Jesus said: "Today this house is coming to salvation, because it too is a son of Abraham. It repeats the word "Today." The word today, in the Gospel of Luke is characteristic. Indicates the relevance of salvation and the necessary care not to miss the chance.
Jesus and salvation are the same. If you enter a house in Jesus will come in even salvation. Jesus reveals the following implications of this salvation, saying, "He too is a son of Abraham." He who in the eyes of the people had no hope of salvation becomes what they are: children of Abraham. Zacchaeus saw his misery, he felt called by name and feels it do and do it.
The expression Son of Abraham, want to understand that salvation is the promise to Abraham to Christ Jesus' Jesus who restores, restores dignity to every man like Zacchaeus.
v. 10: The Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost. This verse refers to the last announcement of the Passion (Luke 18.31) that the disciples did not understand. Until the tragedy of the Cross, Jesus is the one who seeks the lost and save them. Who looks up to him will be saved. Now the apostles begin to understand something of the great mystery surrounding Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus will accept to lose its dignity, his life as a curse, to save sinners.
Here is the action of Jesus, to communicate life to every person. The action of Jesus is not holding back from any of the situation, as in the case of this rich, that Zaccheus, which could be regarded as a hopeless case. In Jesus, salvation is impossible made possible.
The Good News is for everyone.
The Gospel in the mind of the Church Fathers
The Cursed surrounds the sword against us and show their weapons to frighten us, but they melt like wax on the bodies. that can not be lead to sin, Satan is angry because the ranks of the righteous is the most numerous of his army. And even his flock rises up and flees to the Son of Mary. It was removed from him his zealous followers Zacchaeus, because the Lord has met warmly embraced and broke it, and the sycamore along the way was his refuge. It has fallen sick and has regained his strength. According to the tree, Jesus has enlightened by his light on the branch, the darkness has been dispelled. Eva
followed the bad advice and he did his, but appeared to Mary, the Holy, and he restored their ancient splendor. The snake has secretly mixed with the blood of sin and death brought him to Eva. And because she did not refuse the drink, simulated friendship. Our Lord stirred their blood with wine, medicine has made life and gave him to drink. The Innocent (Maria) has tasted death and has dominated the salt of the earth. In heaven, sin and Eve attacked when she sold has banished from paradise. He listened to the serpent, and lost the garden. The snake has no feet has prevented the way to Eve, but Maria has served his mother. The young man has brought the old to live in the old mansion. Eva She died later in life, but it has generated Maria, returning young. The birth of his daughter has repaired the fault of the ancient mother. Eva hid the leaven in our fetal death and misery. But it appeared that Mary has taken this ferment, because the creatures are not corrupt.
God has concealed its waves in the Virgin. From the glorious life has sprung. The streams have climbed the mountains above the valleys and gorges. The Evil One was won by the announcement of the Son, before whom all were prostrate. To those who asked revealed his nature, the fields have dried up not being able to endure his glory. That medicine has fortified the rich in grace, their hands have upheld in mourning. The nations have taken, it has healed the wound produced by the snake. The mercy of the sea has broken its banks to wash the sins of Zacchaeus. Grace won the guilt, the offender was raised without being convicted. Jesus was merciful to sinners, even if They have beaten the enemy. His love was that of a shepherd who went out in search of the lost sheep (Luke 15.4-7). He said solemnly, because we believed we will, not seeking our destruction, when a sinner repents, the Father and his angels rejoice (Luke 15.7-10).
One day, continuation of banned hate and anger. He wanted to make us like him who forgives many sins to men. Since he is right, saves us from destruction by giving us the means to that end. In heaven, the angels tremble before him, and the inhabitants of the earth is allowed to win. When the tears are what you asked, he relented. It tends to scare his bow, but pities arch loses tension.
passing near the tree, saw the sinner, embraced him with his eyes and he stopped. One day, Simon has now enjoyed for Zacchaeus and ordered him to drop suffered by the sycamore. The right has controlled the sinner to appear before the court sad. As you may have welcomed the guilty, when he met the merciful Judge. The more Zacchaeus was concerned, at least dared to ask for forgiveness, the more the Lord had mercy, the more it's mercy.
Just and merciful is the Lord, be afraid, you sinners, but be brave! Forgive the sins of those who do penance and punishment sends the stubborn. By means of Zacchaeus he calls us: look at his love! Like the fisherman, the Lord lays the networks be able to take in large numbers. He took the penitent from the tree, he immediately transplanted into his garden. As he saw that Adam had lost its glory, because he has wearing a dress woven of mercy. Praise the Lord who has found and accepted a sinner, which otherwise would be lost. He showed us the way with that of his mercy.
Lord, instead of climbing a tree, I come to your house, save me your mystery! The bigger the cross the branch, you pour out your mercy on me! (Cirillone, Hymn. in conversation. Zacchi., passim).
"And here is a man named Zacchaeus (Luke 19:2). Zacchaeus is the sycamore, the blind is on the road. The Lord has mercy on the one and waiting for him, ennobles the other, honoring him for his visit. Ask the blind man to heal , is invited to the house of Zacchaeus without being invited, he knew that her guest would be amply rewarded, and if she had not heard his voice uttering the call, however, had felt the desire to do so now return ...
in the good graces of the rich we do not want to offend them, because we want to, if possible, cure them all. Otherwise, impressed by the parable of the camel, and set aside, in the person of Zacchaeus earlier than they would agree, they would have a fair reason to believe insulted. They must learn that there is no guilt in being rich, but not knowing how to use the wealth: riches, which hinder the evil in goodness, the good must be an incentive to virtue. Here, here rich Zacchaeus is chosen by Christ, but he donating half his possessions to the poor, returning up to four times what he had fraudulently stolen. Making only the first of these two things would not be sufficient, because the generosity does not count if there is a continued injustice, The Lord then asks that gifts, not that you simply return what was stolen. Zacchaeus does both things, and therefore receives a reward much more abundant than won. Appropriately, it should be noted that he is the "chief tax collector" (Luke 19:2) Who then will despair of salvation, when you saved even one who drew his profit from the fraud? "And he was rich," it is written (Luke 19:2), to learn that not all rich are greedy. Because the Scriptures do not specify why the stature of Zacchaeus while no one says that "was small in stature" (Luke 19:3)? See if by chance he was not small in its malice, or small in his faith: he had not promised anything, when he climbed the sycamore tree, had not yet seen Christ, and therefore he was little. John, however, was great because he saw Christ, saw the Spirit as a dove, stop on Christ so much that he said: "I saw the Spirit descending like a dove and abiding upon him" (Jn 1:32). As for the crowd, perhaps this is not a crowd of confused and ignorant, he could not see the heights of Wisdom? Zaccheo, until it is in a crowd, can not see Christ has risen above the crowd and saw him, that he deserved to contemplate that he wanted to see, past the ignorance of the crowd ... So he saw Zacchaeus, who stood tall, now for the loftiness of his faith he stood out among the fruits of new works, such as from a fruitful tree ... Zacchaeus the sycamore tree is the new fruit of the new season. (Ambrose, In Luc ., 8, 82.84-90).
The eye of faith, which was placed in the pupil of simplicity, recognizing the voice of God is not just a listener ... All those who have been called on two feet have obeyed the voice that called them, when the weight of earthly things is not clinging to their soul. In fact, the bonds of the world are a burden on the intelligence and thoughts, and those who are unlikely to feel trapped in and prevented the entry of the divine call.
The apostles, however, and before them the righteous and the fathers, were not under these conditions: obey as living, and brought forth light, because nothing in the world weighed them. Nothing can bind and prevent the soul that listens to God: it is open and ready, so that the light of the divine voice, whenever you present, is able to receive it.
Our Lord called Zacchaeus had climbed the sycamore tree on which, and immediately Zacchaeus hurried down and received him in his house: the fact is that he hoped to see him and become his disciple, even before it was called. And what is really admirable that he believed in him without which our Lord has spoken to him and without seeing the body, but only on the word of others who had faith in him had been preserved in its natural life and his health. He showed his faith when he believed in our Lord hearing him announce, and the simplicity of his faith has surfaced when he promised to give half their possessions to the poor and to give back four times what he had cheated. In fact, if the soul of Zacchaeus had not been filled at the time of the simplicity that befits the faith, would not have made such a promise to Jesus and would have bestowed and distributed in a short time because his work had amassed over many years . The simplicity spread from side to side that had piled the cunning and the purity of the soul that had been sprinkled with thoughts dell'astuzia acquired; faith waiver of the injustice he had found and held, and proclaimed that not belong to him. In fact, the only good faith is God and does not allow to have more outside of him, all other goods are not important to her, outside of that one God that is durable, and has been placed in us to find God and that he not possess, and to see everything that goes beyond that he is to our detriment. (Filosseno of Mabbug, Hom., 4, 77-80).
Some questions for personal reflection and comparison
always run the risk of life set incorrectly on false binary "dead": Where to find the certainty of the proper setup of my life?
I let myself get from the search for God that manifests itself in Jesus?
I experienced moments of emptiness, dissatisfaction, which might have made me afraid? I found this in a world of feelings, expectations, the possibility that in some way beyond me? Why did this happen? What is the point?
I became aware that many responses that I've given so far are not enough?
I let myself be influenced by the opinion of the people around me? I too implacable judge to the next? How we perceive
salvation now entering into our homes and in our community? The tenderness of Jesus welcoming produces a total change in the life of Zacchaeus. The tenderness of our community is producing some change in the neighborhood? What?
Praying The Lord always passes from our city, our lives, from our history. We also need our sycamore and repeat with the Psalmist (Ps. 118):
With all my heart I seek you, Lord, make me
not deviate from your precepts.
treasure in my heart for your words
do not be offended by sin.
contemplative act
Let us pause to contemplate re-read the story of Zacchaeus in first person: I feel disturbed by too many things, too, are "small in stature 'and I can not see beyond the scroll hurried day. I also feel strong the thirst of Jesus, but I do not know how to find or are too lazy or are too worried about passing things ... then
We climb the sycamore tree to see Jesus and feel confidently say, "Go down just for today I must stay at your house."
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