In today’s gospel according to Luke, we hear about being lost and coming home to Jesus. Zacchaeus was a tax collector and a wealthy man. He went up in a tree just to see this man called Jesus. When Jesus saw him, he said Zacchaeus come down from there as I am going to have dinner with you. So, Zacchaeus came down the tree quickly and Jesus greeted him with Joy. The surrounding people began to grumble and talk about this because of who Zacchaeus was. Even in the society, we live in today, how would we react if we saw Jesus embrace someone, we believe not to be worthy? Would we be Jealous? Angry with God? Confused? The whole point of this is that we need to see everyone as a loved child of God, see them how God sees them. Karen and I went away this past weekend and attended another church. This church had recently encountered a bedbug problem in their adoration chapel because of someone who was staying there. Unfortunately, the people knew who caused the issue and started emailing and writing on Facebook about the issue and the ones involved. The Priest gave his homily on Sunday about how very disappointed he was by the reaction of the people. He went on to say that they were supposed to be a Christian community, but they certainly were not acting like it. He asked the congregation if they thought they were better than the targeted individuals were? He reminded them that Jesus loves ALL people and that they should be ashamed of their behavior. “You call yourself a Christian!” he said. We come to church and show how “Holy” we are and yet when it is time to be the hands and feet of Jesus this is what we do!? Jesus will visit the sick and we should also visit the sick. Jesus calls the ones who have wandered off and we should too. This aligns with the prodigal son story as well. The prodigal son was “on top of the world” until he squandered all his money. Then suddenly everyone ignored him, and he fell into social disgrace. He was poor and hungry and felt he needed to crawl back to his father. On the other hand, the younger son never led an extravagant life, but was with the father the whole time. Like the prodigal son Zacchaeus was lost, separated from the Father, and is now found and willing to repay his debt 4 times over. I would like to challenge you, this week go comfort someone in need, someone who is hurting, someone who has fallen away from the church. Our goal in doing this is not to make that person feel less of an individual by pointing out their net worth, social status, emotional state, or church attendance, but rather to see them how God sees them, to be the hands and feet of Jesus to them. Let today be the day we become the person Jesus wants us to be. Let this be the day we give our life entirely, not partially, but ENTIRELY, over to Jesus. Live for him alone. As we know, the only thing in the end that matters is, did we do what Jesus asked of us? Did we lead people toward him or away from him?

“Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.” 1 Peter 3:15

God Bless,

Don Barry