We'd make a mess of it!
Today at Mass, the readings were 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
Today's Gospel shows what poor judges we would make. The crowds had been witnessing Jesus' miracles with growing enthusiasm, and then the cheers turn into jeers. Why?
A few in the crowd noticed this little man standing on his tip toes, trying to get a glimpse of Jesus. Most recognized him as the hated chief tax collector of the area, a very rich man named Zacchaeus. A few avoided contact as he suddenly dropped his dignity and ran to climb a nearby sycamore tree. He wanted a better view!
As Jesus passed underneath, He glanced up and spotted the man. Jesus' glance penetrated into the heart of Zacchaeus, and contritely he stared back at Jesus.
2007-11-04 07:58:11 · 23 answers · asked by SpiritRoaming 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"Zacchaeus, come down quickly," Jesus said, "I want to have dinner with you today." The crowd gasped in disbelief and revulsion that the Healer would have anything to do with this despised sinner.
As the delighted little man explained to Jesus how he meant to make up for his many sins, Jesus turned and explained to the crowd, "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."
What beautiful words that so harmonize with what we heard in today's first reading from the Book of Wisdom!
2007-11-04 07:58:35 · update #1
There, the writer extols both God's power and God's mercy. After declaring that the whole universe is like a small grain in the scales, or like a drop of morning dew compared to God's greatness, he praises God for His mercy in searching out sinners in order that they may repent of their sins and be justified in His sight.
That's exactly what Jesus, the Son of God, was doing that day in Jericho when he sought out Zacchaeus. And that's just what the message is for us. No matter what we've done in the past, the mercy of the Lord can search us out, inspire us to repentance, and then embrace us as His own.
God never gives up on those the world has condemned as hopeless, for, as the first reading proclaims, He is "a lover of souls" and He alone will decide who gets into heaven and who doesn't!
Agree? Disagree?
2007-11-04 07:59:15 · update #2
hahaha, Edge! I know you're kidding.
(((Edge)))
2007-11-04 08:03:23 · update #3
I agree wholeheartedly with you. I, too, am glad that God Almighty didn't leave it up to mankind to decide who did or did not get into heaven.
Because if he had:
Only the rich would get to heaven.
Only the piteous and self-righteous would go to heaven.
Only the supposedly sinless would get to go to heaven.
Thank God that He didn't leave it up to us. As a result, we all have a chance to get there if we will repent of our sins and try to the best of our ability do His Will and love one another.
Thank you so much for such a beautiful sermon. May God add a blessing to your life for such insightful Scriptures.
2007-11-04 08:07:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Only God in his omniscience has all the data, and in his perfect wisdom recognizes the essential combination of faith and good works needed to restore a broken relationship with God.
I was struck that Zacchaeus neither confessed Jesus Christ as his Savior nor prayed a sinner's prayer. What restored Zacchaeus's broken relationship with God was his offer of restitution: "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."
We often see people who have been doing wrong ask that they not be punished or pay restitution because they have changed their hearts and become Christians. But this is a pretty good sign that they have NOT changed their hearts. Zacchaeus shows us that those who repent recognize that they deserve punishment or owe restitution.
Cheers,
Bruce
2007-11-04 09:10:07 · answer #2 · answered by Bruce 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think only Jesus, can judge us because He went through what we go through as man and even more so and He never sinned... When he said about the stoning of the prostitute, "Let the one who is without sin cast the first stone" that tells me that no one except Jesus himself is worthy to judge another.
Not even God the Father has made himself a man and came down here and went through what we go through, but God the son did and not once did he fail...But God did give us the written word, and Romans 10: 9 & 10 tells us how we are saved..Jesus is the door and the way....The wisdom of our Lord and his judgment comes in with all those who die without ever having the opportunity to hear or read the word...
2007-11-04 08:18:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
none of us our worthy to go to heaven, that is why He sent His Son Jesus- there is nothing that anyone of us can do that would gain eternal life. The only way that we can go to heaven is by accepted Christ as FULL payment for our sins- and confessing the repenting. When we are saved, THEN we will want to walk in the worthy manner before God, but until we admit that we cannot save ourselves no matter how "good" we may try to be- we are not saved.
2007-11-04 08:21:39 · answer #4 · answered by AdoreHim 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
faith, as I actual have discovered, is a drug. you're given it at a youthful age and you get addicted. You carry to it because of the fact it extremely is comforting, or common, or maybe because of the fact it extremely is basic. it extremely is extremely what it became for me. It made me hallucinate and have faith i became listening to "god's" voice in my ear, like he became guiding me. the only ingredient hell is, is a sort of suggestions-administration. it extremely is used to tension human beings in by using worry. Breaking freed from faith isn't basic, regardless of if it extremely is surely the main relaxing, freeing adventure a non secular man or woman could have. understanding that actuality is a lot extra grand and mysterious, and totally extra astonishing than they ever dreamed...it extremely is a acceptable ingredient. examine your Koran, the bible, and all different non secular texts(which comprise those no longer common as real anymore) and notice how alike they're. learn technology and history, and notice what they practice you. you will discover that it extremely is all one actuality. it extremely is the only existence we get, so income from it.
2016-09-28 08:05:08 · answer #5 · answered by sedlay 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, I am a little bit in disagreement...wait don't stone me...I have an explanation...you see, you get to decide if you want to be saved or not.....so you make your own future.....Zacchaeus decided he wanted to see more of Jesus,,he had a sincere heart for God...So, in a way we are partners with God in deciding our fate....that is what free will is all about...
2007-11-04 08:20:27 · answer #6 · answered by dreamdress2 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As always, the best way to understand Catholic doctrine is to think of God as the wisest, most loving, most merciful, and most just Father that we can possibly envision.
2007-11-05 05:22:43 · answer #7 · answered by Isabella 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1 Samuel 16:7
7But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
If it were up to man we never would have known David as king and probably lost the Psalms and much more.
2007-11-04 08:04:13 · answer #8 · answered by linnea13 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Could you imagine if Chris (or CJ or whatever he is using today) got to decide. Heaven would be a very lonely place.
2007-11-04 08:19:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I just wish all Christians realized that it isn't up to them or their various Books of Rules to make such decisions. It's a great temptation to think one knows God's will for others. It's enough of a challenge for me just to try to discern God's will for myself.
2007-11-04 08:03:23 · answer #10 · answered by Skepticat 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋