Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: November 19, 2024

Date: Tuesday of the 33rd Week of Ordinary Time

Scripture Text: Luke 19:1-10

At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So, he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy.

When they saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone, I shall repay it four times over.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel reading for today from Luke recounts Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus, a wealthy man, whose heart and being were completely converted upon meeting Christ. We must not dismiss the measures Zacchaeus took to “see Christ.”

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I go out of my way to truly see Christ? To truly come to know Christ?

Praying:

LORD, Jesus Christ, Son of God, my Redeemer, I desire to come to You fully, to know You and love You and serve You because of my knowledge and love. Send your Spirit to fuel within me the courage and fortitude needed to grow my relationship with You, LORD. Grant that I may become the disciple You call me to be. Amen.