Breaking the Word

33^rd Week in Ord. Time, Tuesday – 15^th November 2022 — Gospel: Lk 19,1-10

Received with Enthusiasm   

At the invitation of Jesus to come down to stay in his house, Zacchaeus made haste and received him with joy. Did Jesus receive Zacchaeus with joy or is it Zacchaeus who received with joy? It is both. It is a joyful business altogether: the Saviour is glad to save, and the sinner is glad to be saved. As chief tax collector Zacchaeus had been on top of his happiness, because this joyous time of receiving Jesus is the turning point in his character. It is a rare privilege that most did not get personally. When Zacchaeus encountered Jesus, he recognized his spiritual poverty and opened his heart to receive Jesus. This openness led him to become humble. To be humble is to know one’s place before God. To be humble also means, “low in height, level; small in size,” which Zacchaeus was both physically and spiritually, as indicated by his willingness to literally go out in order to receive Jesus. This openness is what Jesus called the poor in spirit: “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God” (Mt 5,3).

33^rd Week in Ord. Time, Monday – 14^th November 2022 — Gospel: Lk 18,35-43

Great Insights  

The blind man cried out to Jesus giving him a title, “Son of David”. This title is full of literal and theological significance and reveals faith in Jesus’ identity as the Messiah. Ironically, the blind man had better vision than those around him. While on the physical level he was blind, but on the spiritual level he had insight because he was able to recognize the person from Nazareth as the Messiah, which those who had physical sight were not able to do. The blind man’s use of this title, “Son of David” had a prophetic significance. It alluded to the fulfillment of the prophecy that the Messiah would descend from the line of David. From a theological perspective, God promised David that his throne would be established forever (2 Sam 7,15-16), which came to fulfillment in God’s son, Jesus. Because of this great revelation, Jesus never underestimated the vision of this blind man. In fact, he attributed the recovery of his sight to his faith.