31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings For The Day

Catholic Daily Readings (10-31-2010: Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time)

FIRST READING

Wisdom of Solomon 11:22–12:2

Because the whole world before you is like a speck that tips the scales,and like a drop of morning dew that falls upon the ground.23 But you are merciful to all, for you can do all things,and you overlook men’s sins, that they may repent.24 For you love all things that exist,and you loathe none of the things which you have made,for you would not have made anything if you had hated it.25 How would anything have endured if you had not willed it?Or how would anything not called forth by you have been preserved?26 You spare all things, for they are yours, O Lord who love the living.12 For your immortal spirit is in all things.2 Therefore you correct little by little those who trespass,and remind and warn them of the things wherein they sin,that they may be freed from wickedness and put their trust in you, O Lord.

RESPONSE Psalm 145:1A Song of Praise.Of David.145

 [144] I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name for ever and ever.

PSALM

Psalm 145:1–2, 8–11, 13, 14A Song of Praise.Of David.145 [144] I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name for ever and ever.2 Every day I will bless you,and praise your name for ever and ever.8 The LORD is gracious and merciful,slow to anger and abounding in mercy.9 The LORD is good to all,and his compassion is over all that he has made.10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD,and all your saints shall bless you!11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom,and tell of your power,13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,and your dominion endures throughout all generations.The LORD is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds.14 The LORD upholds all who are falling,and raises up all who are bowed down.

SECOND READING

2 Thessalonians 1:11–2:211 

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his call, and may fulfil every good resolve and work of faith by his power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.2  Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to meet him, we beg you, brethren, 2  not to be quickly shaken in mind or excited, either by spirit or by word, or by letter purporting to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

GOSPEL

Luke 19:1–10

He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And there was a man named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector, and rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. 7  And when they saw it they all murmured, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8  And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9  And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Initial Thoughts & Impressions

Chief in sin, small in virtue, small in spiritual life, lifted up by a tree to be called by name and redeemed by Jesus.

Last step to Jerusalem points to Jesus salvific work for me and all mankind.

Compared to your being, our world is a speck and compared to the wonder and majesty of this world I am significantly less than a speck within this speck!

But you were merciful to all! (Wis v 23) This is an attribute of your power, benevolence, & hesed. There is nothing in existence that is insignificant because it exists by your thought and will. If it remains in existence then it remains in your thought and if thought of by you, loved by you! Should I not seek you with the same intent? You call me by name.

Goal, purpose – “fulfill every resolve and work of faith by His power so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” though insignificant in the grand scheme of things I am loved, given a purpose, redeemed and redirected when I go astray, called by name, that in a proper response to God's generosity in creating me and his love and care in redeeming me through Christ I may respond to every work of faith God has given me, entrusted to me! My call and life in Christ is as unique as my very existence for the glory of God and the enrichment of all entrusted to me!

He was “seeking to see who Jesus was.” This doesn’t mean Zacchaeus was curious to see what he looked like, but to KNOW who Jesus was. A deeper attempt to understand Jesus. How often do we seek to understand Jesus? Who is Jesus for you? You can be taught the attributes of Christ, His Hypostatic union, The Second person of the Trinity, but do you seek to understand Jesus in your life? You would have to seek Him out, and if you make the effort to discover Him, then he will call you by name to dine with you.

God made us in love, through Jesus, He redeemed us in love, and fills us with His Holy Spirit to sanctify us in love. See the Trinity hidden in the Old Testament.

Researched Material

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