Holyrood Church 715 West 179 Street, Upper West side Manhattan, USA, 212-923-3770

Today Jesus also calls out to us: “Come down from your tree and take me to your home.

 
Reading: When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”  So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. Luke 19:5-6.
 
Good morning, happy Tuesday, and many blessings my dear family.
In today’s Gospel (Luke 19:1-10), we hear the story of Zacchaeus, the ‘short’ tax collector.  Jesus was passing through Jericho.  Zacchaeus had heard about Jesus, and he was curious about this man, Jesus.  So Zacchaeus decided to join the crowd that had gathered to welcome Jesus.  However, Zacchaeus was a short man.  He was not tall enough to be able to see Jesus when he walked by.  So, he decided to climb a tree.  At least this way he would be able to see Jesus, even if he would not be able to get close to Jesus.
 
However, on this day, Zacchaeus received the surprise of his life.  When Jesus saw Zacchaeus sitting in the tree, Jesus looked at him and said: “Zacchaeus, come down, for today I will stay at your house.”  Immediately, Zacchaeus scrambled down the tree and joyfully received Jesus into his home.   However, some of the bystanders became disgruntled and began to grumble. Zacchaeus was not intimidated by their sly comments.  He stood his ground and promised Jesus: “I will give half of my possessions to the poor.  And if I have defrauded anyone, I will repay them four times the amount.”
 
As we read this story, there are a number of things we could reflect on. We too want to see Jesus in the deepest possible sense. Only then can we truly become his disciples. We need to hear him saying to us, “I want to stay in your house today.” Let us open the door and welcome him in.
 
Jesus' hangers-on could be surprising. First a blind man of Jericho, now one of the richest and most hated men of the town is next; a man who has cheated many people, the cause of many a family's poverty. The home of the one most hated was the place Jesus chose to stay. The man most hated changed his ways and gave back what was wrongfully his. The gospel of Jesus - if we are sincere in our reading of it - will always challenge us to change or modify our ways.
 
Jesus made Zacchaeus' day, and everybody else began to grumble. What is going on here?
What does it say to me?
 
Today Jesus also calls out to us: “Come down from your tree and take me to your home.  I wish to spend time with you!”  Will we immediately “come down from our tree” and respond to Jesus’ call?  Or will we sit there for a while trying to decide what to do?  The question for us is: Will we allow him into our hearts?  Our home?  Or will we ignore his request?
 
Blessings,
 
Fr. Luis+

Date news: 
Tuesday, November 16, 2021 - 15:15

Ministry at the time of Coronavirus (Covid 19): Prevent, cure and accompany

Now we have to shape what some have started calling; The Church at Home. Although I keep asking myself; What do those who do not have a home do? For this reason, at the same time, I am declaring today in our Holyrood Church a Lenten day of prayer, fasting and reading the Bible in the Time of the Coronavirus.

facebook youtube instagram mail zelle