Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: November 21, 2023

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 brings us the familiar account of Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus in Jericho as recorded in the Gospel of Luke. Zacchaeus’ curiosity about Jesus led him to take extreme measures to learn more. And his efforts were rewarded. Jesus calls him by name and expresses his desire to remain with Zacchaeus that day. Zacchaeus is moved. He undergoes a conversion on the spot, promising to act justly towards others. Jesus’ response to Zacchaeus as well as to those who found fault with his singling out a tax collector to spend time with was to identify his mission, “to save what was lost.”

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

When I am lost, do I seek out the LORD? Am I willing to take extreme measures to come to the LORD? When the LORD calls me, do I allow that call to resonate within me and trigger a change within me, a conversion? Do I savor my moments with the LORD?

Praying:

LORD of goodness and light, illuminate my mind and heart and soul so that I might better see the path to union with You. Open me to your transformative love. Through your saving love, grant that I may become the one I was created to be and the disciple I am called to be. Amen.