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Sts. Joseph & Paul Catholic Church |
Homily Archives | |
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31st Sunday of Ordinary Time
The woman had been a
widow for several years. During those years, she had isolated herself
and become what many of us would call a recluse. Her family had all
but deserted her because she was so withdrawn. But one of her children
cared enough to call a psychiatrist to come and see his mother, who
was so depressed. When the doctor arrived at her house, he found her
slumped down in her chair, and her house was quiet and dark. However,
she admitted to him that she had been depressed since her husband’s
death. As they talked, the doctor looked around the house, and he noticed the beautiful African Violets that she grew. They were everywhere, pots and pots of them -- pink and blue and purple. They sat in the window sills and on the counters; they filled the kitchen table. Seeing this, the doctor wrote a most unusual prescription. The prescription was this: the woman must read the newspaper everyday and, in it, look for people in her community in whose lives significant things had happened -- significant events like the birth of a baby, winning an award, a birthday, a marriage, a graduation, a death. When she had identified a person, she was to send them one of her violets with an accompanying note that read, “I grew this violet especially for you.” Within a month's time, the widow called the doctor and told him how dramatically her life had changed. She said that every time she sent a violet, the receiver responded with great enthusiasm. Those who received her gift of kindness were deeply touched. They responded in turn by sending her a note, or homemade cookies, or some small gift, and often, they would even visit her. The widow said she was no longer depressed and that she was healed. This woman , who once was so turned in on herself, soon became known as the “violet lady” and lived her life happily with many new friends. The story of Zacchaeus is an intriguing story. Zacchaeus is unique to Luke’s Gospel. In the eyes of Jesus, he had several things against him. He was a tax collector, which would have suggested that he took advantage of the poor, and Jesus often spoke out against this behavior. He was wealthy, and we recall how Jesus encouraged those with great wealth to denounce their possessions for the joy of the kingdom. And finally, Zacchaeus was short in stature, which meant that he was unable to see over the crowd and find this man named Jesus, whom he had heard brought salvation. Regardless of these strikes that Zacchaeus had against him, he climbed a tree and went out on a limb to see Jesus. By climbing this tree, Zacchaeus got outside of himself. He put aside the things that could have potentially kept him trapped, and alone in his existing, mundane, and sinful life, and he found a new way for himself. Jesus recognized the action of Zacchaeus, and he offered him love and forgiveness. Like Zacchaeus and the widow who became known as the “violet lady,” we, too, contain the light, the love, and the goodness of God within us. In one way or another, we can all identify with the feeling of turning in on ourselves, and perhaps we are looking for a way out. We need to look outward, go out on a limb, and share our lives with others. When we do this, we do as Jesus did; we give love, and, more importantly, we receive love. Each time we celebrate the Mass and receive the Eucharist, we encounter this saving action of Jesus, who offers us salvation and a new way of life. The Jesus who called Zacchaeus in today’s gospel is the same risen Christ who calls us into his presence to celebrate these sacred mysteries. As we begin this time of prayer, let us remove anything that keeps us from seeing his presence.
sdrose@bellsouth.net
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