DIGNIFIED IN THE EYES OF BOTH GOD AND MAN

 There are times in our life when we are confronted with very critical decisions and sometimes forced to abandon our comfort zones to make way for something we need to do or being called for at the present moment and this could be to the disgust/dismay or admiration of some who think the same or otherwise. Some people would never understand nor can relate with what we're going through or have to go through but all these are worth it if we have the same conviction as Eleazar in today's 1st reading to offer to God our motives and intentions for such decisions. He could have escaped death but he chose to maintain his dignity as a believer before God and man. There are times when we have to really go out of our way to the point of discomfort, inconvenience and embarrassment just to prove to God and everybody that we are for Him. Leaving behind a good example of virtue for the present and coming generation and be able to stand before God without shame and doubt. Amen. Hallelujah!

2nd book of Maccabees 6,18-31.

Those in charge of that unlawful ritual meal took the man aside privately, because of their long acquaintance with him, and urged him to bring meat of his own providing, such as he could legitimately eat, and to pretend to be eating some of the meat of the sacrifice prescribed by the king; in this way he would escape the death penalty, and be treated kindly because of their old friendship with him. But he made up his mind in a noble manner, worthy of his years, the dignity of his advanced age, the merited distinction of his gray hair, and of the admirable life he had lived from childhood; and so he declared that above all he would be loyal to the holy laws given by God. He told them to send him at once to the abode of the dead, explaining: "At our age it would be unbecoming to make such a pretense; many young men would think the ninety-year-old Eleazar had gone over to an alien religion. Should I thus dissimulate for the sake of a brief moment of life, they would be led astray by me, while I would bring shame and dishonor on my old age. Even if, for the time being, I avoid the punishment of men, I shall never, whether alive or dead, escape the hands of the Almighty. Therefore, by manfully giving up my life now, I will prove myself worthy of my old age, and I will leave to the young a noble example of how to die willingly and generously for the revered and holy laws."

..."The Lord in his holy knowledge knows full well that, although I could have escaped death, I am not only enduring terrible pain in my body from this scourging, but also suffering it with joy in my soul because of my devotion to him." This is how he died, leaving in his death a model of courage and an unforgettable example of virtue not only for the young but for the whole nation.

If we are not aware of the offense and defense reaction then we can have a picture of how it operates in sports games like basketball and football. This works well in such games but not at all times in the game of life. If we will always rely on our own limited and imperfect defense strategy and give in to the spur of the moment, brief but quick surge of the adrenalin rush and get carried away by our emotions then we are bound to lose and fail. This is so because we end up with our self devised means of defense in redeeming ourselves from an offensive situation rather than relying on God's fool proof and sure ball defense. We should all realize and be aware of the fact that the Lord who sees all the good things we do will never abandon us. Nowadays we need not go through the same agony as what the early Christians suffered because we are free to express our praise to God. Let us hope and pray that just like those Christians in the olden times we, too, may develop that same kind of devotion.  It is no longer an obligation and duty that we do things for the Lord but out of pure and voluntary act of love for God which produces joy in our hearts. If we sometimes feel uncertain of some decisions we may have made, not everybody seem to agree with it and we really have no way of finding out what the future holds for us then we can always count on God to uphold our cause. Amen. Hallelujah!

Ps 3:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (6b) The Lord upholds me.

But you, LORD, are a shield around me; my glory, you keep my head high.

Whenever I cried out to the LORD, I was answered from the holy mountain. Selah

Whenever I lay down and slept, the LORD preserved me to rise again.

I do not fear, then, thousands of people arrayed against me on every side.

It is remarkable how Zacchaeus in today's gospel was willing to give up half of his possessions and repay 4x those he had extorted money from. This is a total change of heart. He is a perfect example of a person who has heard the knocking of Jesus in his heart and responded to it. Or he could also be described as the person that was lost and found. We are all being sought by Jesus in whatever situation we are in right now. It is up to us to follow the example of Zacchaeus who did not hold back but totally surrendered when found. Not all of us although have been definitely sought after and found by God would do the same thing that he did. To acknowledge God is one thing but to give up basically everything that he used to hold most dear, treasured and valued in his life is another thing. Only those who have discovered who God really is and what He is worth can do such a thing and make this truly wise exchange. One way or another there will come a time in our lives when we have to decide to go down from wherever place we are right now. In doing so we might have to let go of our personal agenda and strip ourselves of our sinfulness, accept our wrongdoings, repair the damage we've done and stand with all humility before the Lord the way Zacchaeus did in today's gospel. We’ve got to be a risk taker like Zacchaeus. He took a great risk of appearing foolish before other people when he climbed on a tree just to get a glimpse of Jesus and what did he get. He did not just get a glimpse but Jesus went into his home and dined with him. He did not stop there, when Jesus finally went into his home he offered to give up half of his possessions to the poor and repay four times those he had extorted money from. We are headed to a much greater blessing if we will learn to take great risks in the name of our faith in God. We can never outdo or out give God in His generosity. It is time we let go of our narrow mindsets and boxed up notions of what a true blessing is. It is about time we realize that God alone can make us whole. We should not hold back as we open ourselves up to God’s work and saving power as He seeks and restores us to Himself. Time and again, Zacchaeus has always been part of the daily gospel readings in the Church. You know why? We are no different from Zacchaeus, because just like him we are sinners and unworthy but God in His infinite kindness and mercy singled him out among the crowd and called him specifically by his name. I am sure God is calling each one of us by name. And just like Zacchaeus may we also respond to him in a personal way and hear the same announcement from Jesus," Today salvation has come to this house." Amen. How can we not be full of hope and confidence in Him? God will never stop at anything just to carry out the plan He has for all of us and be victorious in Him. Amen. Hallelujah!

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 19,1-10.

...When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house." And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, "He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner." But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost."