31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Oct.

31, 2010
(Wisdom 11:22-12:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2; Lk. 19:1-11)

The Book of Wisdom is one of the last books of the Old Testament. It is
preserved only in Greek and probably was written about 50 BC, although some
would argue for earlier dates up to as much as 200 BC. No one seems to suggest
any date after 50 BC.
Whether Jesus had ever heard the book read or not is unknown, but his
general teaching reflects the universalist view of God that the Book of Wisdom
conveys here. The whole universe and everything in it belongs to a loving God,
who has mercy on all. And if the God of all “overlooks people’s sins that they may
repent,” does not this image smash to bits the vengeful God of wrath who tends to
emerge at times?
It would be interesting to see how Christians react to an author who asks “how
could a thing remain, unless you willed it; or be preserved, had it not been called
forth by you?” Much of what we see in the world we live in today suggests such an
author would not get much of a hearing. God is viewed today by far too many more
like a terminator with many volunteers, ready willing and able to hasten the
termination. What then becomes of Wisdom’s claim that God loves all things that
are, and loathes nothing that has been made?
As Jesus enters Jericho he begins the final stage of his journey to Jerusalem.
He stops at the chief tax collector’s house, Zacchaeus by name. The story is unique
to Luke. Zaccheaus’shortness forced him to climb a tree “to see Jesus.” To “see” in
the New Testament is usually to be understood on more than one level, almost
always suggesting seeing with eyes of faith, as in Lk.18:41 when the blind man
asked to be able to see Jesus who then responded “your faith has saved you!.”
When Jesus spots him, he calls him and announces he will stay at Zacchaeus’ house
that day. He comes down quickly, as so many characters do in Luke’s gospel, and
receives him with joy! Recall the way Elizabeth received the pregnant Mary at the
beginning of this gospel, where Mary had also gone “in haste” to visit Elizabeth.
The crowds grumble: “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner!” The
explanation Zacchaeus gives based on this translation makes it appear as though
Zacchaeus has changed his ways as a result of “seeing Jesus”. The original Greek
suggests he was already doing this by using the present tense of the verb “to give.”
In any case the proclamation Jesus announces is bold: “Today salvation has come to
this house...the Son of Man has come to seek and save what was lost.”
The Christian faithful commemorate this same reality each time they gather to
celebrate the Eucharist, whether they understand the language or not. On the part of
Zacchaeus there was no formal confession of sin. But when Jesus announces
“Today, I must stay at your house,” he rushes down with joy. This dynamic process
of call, acceptance and genuine joy at the proclamation that “the Son of Man has
come to seek and to save what was lost” seems displaced by a gradual tightening of
the liturgical reins, promoting ritual over reconciliation, in today’s Church. Or so it
appears to some.
Ah well, the Good News remains the Good News. The Lord continues to visit
the house of the sinner, rebuking sinners little by little, so that they may abandon
their wickedness and come to believe. Blest be the name of the Lord now and
forever!

Fr. Lawrence L Hummer