Homily for Tuesday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle I
Theme: HE SEEKS & SAVES
By: Fr. Gerald M. Musa
Homily for Tuesday November 16 2021
Zaccheus, a senior tax collector, a wealthy and short man encountered Jesus and had a conversion experience. As soon as his life was transformed, he took two vital steps: first, he promised to give half his property to the poor; second, he promised to pay anyone he cheated four times the amount. The action of Zaccheus tells us that every conversion experience must be accompanied by true repentance, sacrifice, and restitution. People were scandalized when they saw Jesus interacting with Zaccheus, a public sinner. Jesus responded, “The Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.’ Yes, the twofold mission of Jesus is to seek and save what was lost. Even today he is seeking for us who are lost and enslaved by sin. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). He seeks and saves us when our hearts are broken; he seeks and saves us from miserable life; he seeks and saves us from the tyranny of physical and moral evil. The amazing work of Jesus is to transform people who have been judged and condemned by people, to set them free, and restore their lost dignity.
A preacher rightly says, “Salvation is not a reward for the righteous, it is a gift for the guilty.”
Luke 19:1-10; Tuesday, 33rd Week