DGeMs- Daily Gospel eMessage
Dear Friend in the Lord,
Repentance: In today’s episode of the conversion of Zacchaeus, the public-tax collector and sinner, we are reminded that God will forgive us of all our sins, regardless of how grave they may be. Like Zacchaeus, have the sincerity to return to God; ask Him for the wisdom to live in the peace and joy of Jesus.
Fr Philip Heng, S.J.
Luke 19:1-10
What would you do if Jesus knocked on your door and said, “I must stay at your house today?” Would you be excited or embarrassed? Jesus often “dropped-in” at unexpected times and he often visited the “uninvited” – the poor, the lame, even public sinners like Zacchaeus, the tax collector! Tax collectors were despised and treated as outcasts, no doubt because they accumulated great wealth at the expense of others. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and was much hated by all the people.
Zacchaeus needed God’s merciful love and in his encounter with Jesus he found more than he imagined possible. He shows the depth of his repentance by deciding to give half of his goods to the poor and to use the other half for making restitution for fraud. Zacchaeus’ testimony included more than words. His change of heart resulted in a change of life, a change that the whole community could experience as genuine. The Lord is always ready to make his home with us. We have to make room for him in our hearts and in our home, so that he lives with us forever.
Lord, come and stay with me. Fill my house with Your presence and fill my heart with Your praise. Help me to show kindness and mercy to all, even those who cause me harm.