November 17, 2020
#GospelReflectionChallenge
'There's Hope'
"Who is Zacchaeus?
He was a chief tax collector and was rich. He didn't have many friends in Jericho and he was short. We also know he couldn't care less what people thought about him.
It is also hilarious to imagine a wealthy banker dressed in an expensive suit, up a tree, like a child, in the middle of the street! We know that he wanted to see Jesus so badly that nothing could stop him, which is what we should admire of him.
What we don't know is why he wanted to see Our Lord; was it curiosity? Was he trying to change his life? Did someone else bring him there? We don't know. But none of that mattered to Jesus. This story tells us about Jesus' love for sinners. The conversion of Zacchaeus began with him trying to see Our Lord. A little effort on his part was all it took, and Jesus did the rest. Zacchaeus probably wasn't expecting to change his life that day. He just wanted to see Jesus."
But when we read the story again and we will realize that although Zaccaheus wanted to see Jesus it was rather Jesus who wanted to see him even more. It was Jesus who came to him. He had planned that encounter from all eternity. Our Lord stopped and, setting His eyes on him, full of love, He said: "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today."
"Every sinner has a hope."
GOD LOVES SINNERS, therefore GOD LOVES US! Palagi niya tayong binibigyan ng pag-asa to makes our life worth living. Kahit paulit ulit natin siyang sinasaktan, kahit paulit ulit natin siyang iniiwan, kahit paulit ulit natin siyang pinagpapalit, kahit paulit ulit natin siyang kinakalimutan, kahit paulit ulit pa tayong makagawa ng kasalanan. Mahal ka ng Diyos. Mahal tayo ng Diyos.
Kaya't sa bawat gagawin natin. Isipin lagi nating mabuti ang bawat hakbang na ating gagawin. Mga bagay na dapat isa-isip at isabuhay na sa Kanya'y hindi natin siya maiiwan, maipagpapalit, makakalimutan at higit sa lahat ay hindi natin siya masasaktan.
God promises us to be our light in the darkness offering each of us tangible help and everlasting hope. God encourages us to continue fighting the good fight of faith.
Kaya naman ibalik natin sa Kanya ang pagmamahal na walang hanggang. Let us continue to serve Him wholeheartedly.
"Let us remember this fundamental truth about God-- God loves sinners "as they are" but He refuses to leave them "as they are".
