Gospel: Lk 19:1-10
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man named Zaccheus lived there. He was a tax collector and a wealthy man. He wanted to see what Jesus was like, but he was a short man and could not see him because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree. From there he would be able to see Jesus, who was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, come down quickly, for I must stay at your house today.” So Zaccheus climbed down and received him joyfully.
All the people who saw it began to grumble, and said, “He has gone as a guest to the house of a sinner.” But Zaccheus spoke to Jesus, “Half of what I own, Lord, I will give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay him back four times as much.” Looking at him Jesus said, “Salvation has come to this house today, for he is also a true son of Abraham. The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”REFLECTION:
READ: This man is also a true son of Abraham.
REFLECT: We could ask ourselves how we treat short people or people who do not exactly fit our criteria of respectability. Do we react like Jesus and see them as the sons and daughters of Abraham?
PRAY: Let us ask the Lord to widen our hearts so that all humans can find in us a fraternal welcome.
ACT: Today I will treat with special respect those people whom I tend to despise.