The Red Corner of Fr. Luis

Today I woke up thinking about what we can learn from the life of Zacchaeus. The Bible says in Luke 19: 3-4: Zacchaeus was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature. So, he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
 

God uses problems to MATURE US.

 Without a doubt, the truth is that maturity is achieved through the problems solved with responsibility.  Our character is built when we respond correctly to the adversities of life.  Did you know that God is more interested in building character in your life, than in your comfort and convenience?

 The apostle Paul writing to the church in Rome tells them:  And not only that, but we[a] also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope (Romans 5:3-4).

Last night I participated inone of the most painful meetings - emotionally, spiritually and physically -that I have experienced in my life as a priest. And I've been through many. I realized the pain that I have caused in some people and what they have caused me. But this experience that also had its positive actions reminded me of a Biblical scripture which I learned when I was only 6 years old: And my righteous ones will live by faith. (Hebrews 10:38)

The Golden Rule is the ethical principle of treating other people as one's self would prefer to be treated. One of Jesus' most famous and impactful teachings, the Golden Rule can be found in the Bible verses Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31. What Jesus is demanding of us is that we be kind people. Kindness is fundamental to the human existence. This is so powerful that someone in some place said in one occasion that kindness is a language that deaf can hear and the blind can see.