33RD TUESDAY HOMILY OF THE ORDINARY TIME — YEAR B
HOMILY THEME: “TODAY SALVATION HAS COME TO THIS HOUSE…”
BY: Bishop Anthony Ewherido
Apoc 3:1-6, 14-22; Psalm 14(15):2-5; Luke 19:1-10
The letters to the churches in today’s first reading indict the disciples in those churches for hypocrisy, loss of initial fervor and lack of steadfastness, and at the same time reminded them that each moment is an opportunity for them to turn their lives around. Like those disciples, we need to examine our commitment as well. Do we still have that initial zeal and drive that attracted us to Christ? How many of us still preserve our spiritual innocence? As people who live in constant awareness of the Lord’s coming, all that we do must ensure that our names are not erased from the Book of Life. Let us take the call to repentance personally and submit ourselves to the discipline of ongoing conversion. At every moment and in every encounter, Jesus stands at the door and knocks. If we open for him, he comes into communion with us and transforms our lives.
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Zacchaeus, in today’s gospel, definitely heard that knock and opened for Jesus, who responded to the opening of that door in the words: “I must stay at your house today.” At the end of the visit, and upon Zacchaeus’ openness to Jesus’ offer of life and communion, Jesus said: “today, salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham.” Although Zacchaeus was short in stature and in his spiritual life, he stood proudly tall before his detractors because of the power of Jesus’ saving grace. Like Zacchaeus, let us welcome Jesus to our home, not just to our houses and churches but also into our very lives, with joy and open hearts, and we will be blessed in return. His presence is salvation and grace to those who open their hearts to him. We must also shun the discriminatory attitudes that make us look down on people, often thinking that we are better.
Lord, open our hearts to your loving presence that we may come into communion with you and experience your saving grace. Amen.
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