20 November 2012 The conversion of Zaccheus The miraculous cure of the blind man was being publicized throughout the then flourishing and important city of Jericho. Jesus was thus triumphantly received on entering it. He came not to execute justice but mercy; to call sinners to repentance. Among them was a man named Zaccheus, chief of the publicans, and rich. This man sought Jesus where he was but could not, due to the crowd; he was short in height. Running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree, that he might see Jesus who was to pass that way. The desire of Zaccheus to behold the Author of so great a miracle was very natural. Commentators say that grace prompted his eagerness which obtained for him signal favors. If our dispositions resembled his, what graces and favors would be ours, too! “When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today’.” (Lk 19:5) What surprising and delightful words to Zaccheus! No wonder “he hurried down and joyfully received Jesus”. (cf Lk 19:6) In Holy Communion, when our Lord visits us, let no fear prevent us from opening our hearts to him with joy and confidence. Let us welcome him as Zaccheus did. As Jesus entered the house of Zaccheus, grace entered with him, and made this man (regarded as a sinner), just and a saint. (St Clement relates that Zaccheus afterwards followed St Peter who ordained him Bishop of Cesarea.) His works gave proof of the change. “‘Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house; ... For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save that which was lost.’” (cf Lk 19:8-10) Let us imitate Zaccheus in his generosity by immediately making amends for any injury or scandal we may have caused. Thus shall we secure our Lord’s favor, and be sure of one day hearing his words of blessing and salvation. Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp724-6 The Christian meaning of suffering Pain always changes a person. It can move us to strengthen our union with the divine Will; can detach us from worldly goods and excessive concern for our health. Pain can purify and elevate the soul, make us co-Redeemers with Christ; or lead us away from him. Simon of Cyrene was chosen from the crowd to help Jesus carry his Cross. “Forced” (cf Mt 27:32), he saw the heavy planks. Later on, his thoughts turned to the condemned prisoner. Seeing him changed his attitude. He helped Jesus out of love and won the prize of faith. (cf Mark 15:21) We, too should look for Christ amidst our trials. Thus, when we walk alongside the Master we will discover that ‘carrying the Cross’ has true meaning. “We will complete, as He wants us to do, the Passion of the Saviour for the good of the Church and all souls.” (Col 1:24) “It is at the feet of the Crucified Lord that we will come to an understanding of the true nature of the love that lies in sacrifice. Yet sacrifice is sweet to him who is in love.” (A Tanquerey, “The divinization of suffering”, Madrid 1955) Let us contemplate the scene on Calvary, Our Lady united with the sufferings of her Son. “Marvel at the courage of Mary: at the foot of the cross, in the greatest human sorrow (there is no sorrow like hers), filled with fortitude. And ask her for that same fortitude, so that you, too, will know how to remain close to the cross.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 508) Next to Mary we can truly understand how ‘sacrifice is sweet to him who is in love’. We will put before her most sweet Heart all of our failures, mistakes, misunderstandings, family problems, setbacks at work, sickness and pain. “... Once the offering has been made we should try not to think about that particular trouble any more. We should concentrate our mind on fulfilling whatever is God’s Will for us, there where we are -- in the family, in the factory, in the office, at school ... Revitalized by this discovery, we will be able to help our friends to find solace amidst their tears.” (Chiara Lubich, “Words which give life”, Madrid, 1990) Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 5:127-8 Pain makes us resemble Christ If personal shortcomings cannot diminish our joy as children of God, we are also to discover how physical or spiritual setback can contribute to our joy. “You asked me if I had a cross to bear. And I answered, ‘Yes, we always have to bear the cross’. But it is a glorious cross, a divine seal, the authentic guarantee of our being children of God. That is why, with the cross, we always travel happily on our way.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 70) It is faith, supernatural outlook, that sees God’s loving hand behind everything, that turns the “cross” into Christ’s holy cross, one befitting children of God. And that is where we always find the cause of joy, because it identifies us with him and readies us to live with him the glory of his resurrection. (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Way of the Cross”) Christ’s cross is not the pain and restlessness brought on by self-love, envy, laziness ... The joy born of identifying ourselves with Christ, therefore with pain, and even dishonor, moved St Josemaria Escrivá to say: “Listen to me, my child: you must be happy when people treat you badly and dishonor you, when many come out against you, and it becomes the done thing to spit on you, because you are like the ‘refuse of the world’.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Forge”, 803) “In the light of Christ’s cross, therefore, there is no room for fearing pain, ... we understand that love is shown through suffering: our authentic love of God and of all humanity.” (Alvaro del Portillo, “Humility at World Youth Day”, 12 April 1984) Ref: Francis Fernandez-Carvajal and Peter Beteta, “Children of God”, 1997, 136-8 Truth, the Power of Peace First among the ethical imperatives that must preside over the relations among nations and peoples is ‘truth’ ... I am confident the governments and the nations ... will, as they have so admirably done in the past, associate themselves once again with this lofty aim: to instill truth into all relationships, be they political or economic, bilateral or multinational. Bringing truth into all relations is to work for peace, for it will make it possible to apply to the problems of the world solutions that are in conformity with reason and with justice -- in a word, with the truth about man. And this brings me to the second point I would like to make. If it is to be true and lasting, peace must be truly human. The desire for peace is universal. It is embedded in the hearts of all human beings and it cannot be achieved unless the human person is placed at the center of every effort to bring about unity and brotherhood among nations. Ref: Cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, 1984, p404 • Our Lady of ‘La Gardia’, near Bologna, in Italy. This picture was in the Church of Santa Sophia at Constantinople with this inscription: “This picture, painted by St Luke, must be taken to the mountain of ‘La Gardia’ and placed over the altar of the church.” A Greek monk set out for Italy about the year 433, with the picture entrusted to him, and deposited it on the mountain, of ‘La Gardia’. — Bzovius, ad ann. 1433, n. 379. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • “Madonna della Guardia” (also known as “La Gardia”). Bologna, Italy. 433. ... (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of Guard (near Bologna, Italy). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Our Lady of “La Guarde”, Bologna, Italy (433). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • “Nuestra Señora de la Regla” (Our Lady of the Rule). Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Philippines (“The 2002 Catholic Directory of the Philippines”, p57) • Cardinal Spellman Consecrates the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. (1959). (http://mariedenazareth.com)