Someone Wants to See You

Someone Wants to See You

Gospel for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 19.1-10

How is your attention span at Mass? Mine isn't always as it should be- I guess that's one of the many reasons why I need to go every Sunday- one of these weeks, I'll get it right. 

Anyway, a couple of years ago I was my usual ADD self, watching the activity in the pew in front of me, rather than what was happening at the altar. There was a little girl of about five or six years old, with her mother, who was trying to participate in the liturgy, and answer questions about what was going on at the same time. 

This is never easy!

The little girl had a million questions about EVERYTHING- it seems that this may have been an infrequent visit. I could tell the mother was getting more and more frustrated.

At the moment of consecration of the Eucharist, chimes were rung, and the priest lifted the host. 

The little girl asked, "Mommy, what's going on? I can't see!"

To which the mother replied, "There's nothing to see."

At that moment, my heart broke. It was broken for the little girl whose curiosity is at the heart of discipleship. It was also broken for the frustrated mother, who, like me, is too distracted to see.

The mother was right- there was nothing to see. But there was SOMEONE to see. 

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Last week's parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector is now "brought to life" in the encounter of Jesus with Zacchaeus. This Gospel story is very popular with the young children, and with good reason. The main character is like them- too little to see what's going on. Zacchaeus solves the problem in an undignified, "childish" way- he climbs a tree. And the story ends well- Jesus sees him and wants to stay at his house.

What else is going on in this story?

 First of all, what was Zacchaeus trying to do? "He was trying to see who Jesus was." Zacchaeus was not merely trying to get a look at a famous man, like someone stretching to see a politician on parade. There is a sense here that Zacchaeus is opening a door to an encounter. 

Why? 

Could it be that there was something missing in his life? He was "a tax collector and was rich."- while he had wealth, he certainly did not have the affection of the Jews (remember tax collectors were despised because of their allegiance to Rome, and their propensity to extort from their people)
In any event, whether Zacchaeus knew it or not, he was "lost".
And Jesus finds this lost sheep, telling him to come down from the tree "for I must stay at your house today." 

Jesus calls. Zacchaeus responds.

And notice how he responds! He doesn't say, "Oh you'll love it Jesus, we're having a wonderful meal today" NO  Zacchaeus says:
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...

Zacchaeus responds with a conversion of the heart. He also "puts his money where is mouth is," or should I say where his heart is...

And "salvation has come to this house" a reminder to all that Jesus came to seek out and save the lost.
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At every Mass we have the opportunity to see Jesus. But more than that we get to encounter Him through the Eucharist. The Gospel today reminds us that we should be attentive to the liturgy and its impact in our everyday life. Consider this part of the Mass. Right before we go up for communion, the priest says:
Behold the Lamb of God! Behold him who takes away the sins of the world! Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
Since last Advent, we have had a new response to this. It comes from Luke 7.7, when the Centurion asks Jesus to heal his slave. But it is also for us, a Zacchaeus moment. Jesus is inviting us, and so we respond:
Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.
And, I, like Zacchaeus, will have a new heart to do your will.
For this week:
Teachers and Parents:Read the story of Zacchaeus to your students and children. Ask them if they ever felt like Zacchaeus. Talk to them about how Jesus lives at your house. And when your at Mass, make sure they can see what's going on. Answer their questions- it is your time to give the homily!
For all of us: If you can, spend some time in front of the Tabernacle. If not, the next time your at Mass, be attentive- look up at the host and chalice as it becomes the Body and Blood of Christ- it's one of the reasons the priest is holding it up! Cherish the "Lord I am not worthy" prayer. And when you receive the Eucharist, be aware of that you become what you receive.
After all, someone wants to see you...