31st Sunday of Ordinary Time
Wisdom 11:22-12:2
Psalm 145:1–2, 8–9, 10–11, 13, 14
2 Thessalonians 1:11—2:2
Luke 19:1–10
The account of the conversion of Zacchaeus, another tax collector whose fate we know, follows last week’s story of the two persons who went to pray at the temple. In this case, we meet one who is literally small, that is, short in stature. His approach to Jesus shows a zealous heart, open to a change of mind toward generosity.
Zacchaeus serves as the patron saint of all who are “vertically challenged.” Short people have often been ridiculed. As one who is tall, I have offered advice to the “little ones” I have encountered: “It doesn’t matter how tall you are, as long as your feet reach the ground.”
Servers in the sacristy who have difficulty finding the right size alb or cassock often smile at this advice. I usually follow up with an observation: “Some who are tall have their heads in the clouds, and their feet do not reach the ground.” This is probably a bit too philosophical.
When the children who have been shorter begin to be taller than their parents, I have other advice: “No matter how tall you are, you should still look up to your parents!”
The Lord encounters Zacchaeus as He plans to pass through Jericho. Luke tells us that “He intended to pass through the town.” The encounter with the heart and zeal of the tax collector changed Jesus’ mind, and His visit to Zacchaeus’ home resulted in a fourfold conversion. “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.”
Wisdom sings out God’s Love for all His creation and the manner in which God’s mercy offers room for repentance. With a hint of the compassion revealed in Jesus’ encounter with sinners, the author of wisdom points out how God relates with the very opposite of “smiting” that many of the Old Testament texts are famous for. In other words, we are given a glimpse into the mind of the One God Who has a plan for all humanity, a plan that includes mercy as a central theme.
In the Second Letter to the Thessalonians, Paul speaks of being “worthy” of the calling that comes to us from God. “We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.”
At the time of an ordination, the bishop asks whether the candidate has been found “worthy.” Everyone who has heard this question about himself, and every vocation director or seminary rector who must answer the question, cringes slightly, each one knowing the fragility of the candidate being presented.
The answer of the Rite of Ordination used to be, “Quantum humána fragílitas nosse sinit, et scio, et testíficor ipsum dignum esse ad hujus onus officii. …” This was translated: “As far as human frailty allows one to know, I am certain and I testify that they are worthy to undertake the burden of this office.”
The current ritual expresses the answer this way: “After inquiry among the people of Christ and upon recommendation of those concerned with his training, I testify that he has been found worthy.” When I used to answer the question as a director of vocations, I had in mind a fuller translation of the meaning of the expression “worthy”: “Do you judge this candidate as being able to stand under the weight of the office?”
Paul’s prayer is that we may be made worthy of our calling, that is, capable of keeping in mind God’s vison for the world and His way of unfolding that plan. We must be like Zacchaeus, zealous to see Jesus and ready to look ridiculous in the sight of others. We must also open our hearts, repenting of our former ways and of how we have failed to treat others fairly.