St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, virgin

Do not look back to the past, nor forward to the future.

Claim only the present, for it holds God's will.

 

 Dedication of the Churches of Peter and Paul

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

2 Maccabees 6:18-31*

Eleazar, one of

The prominent teachers of the Law, already old and of noble appearance,

was forced to open his mouth to eat the flesh of a pig. But he preferred to die honorably than to live in disgrace,

and voluntarily came to the place where they beat him to death. (...)

 

Those in charge of this impious banquet took him aside, since they had known him for a long time,

and tried to convince him to pretend to be eating the meat, but in reality,

to eat something allowed by the Law and prepared by himself. (...)

 

But he preferred to make a noble decision worthy of his age, of his noble years, of his shining white hair,

and of the irreproachable life he had led from childhood. Above all, showing respect for the holy laws established by God,

he answered that he would rather be sent to the place of the dead. (...) Having said this, he gave himself over to death. (...)

 

Ps 3:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 

The Lord upholds me.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊     

Luke 19:1-10

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it.

A man named Zaccheus lived there. He was a tax collector and a wealthy man.

He wanted to see what Jesus was like, but he was a short man and could not see him because of the crowd.

So he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree. From there he would be able to see Jesus,

who was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him,

"Zaccheus, come down quickly, for I must stay at your house today."

 

So Zaccheus climbed down and received him joyfully.

All the people who saw it began to grumble, and said, "He has gone as a guest to the house of a sinner."

But Zaccheus spoke to Jesus, "Half of what I own, Lord, I will give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone,

I will pay him back four times as much." Looking at him Jesus said, "Salvation has come to this house today,

for he is also a true son of Abraham. The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"Salvation has come to this house today."

Today we read about two noble souls. The first, Eleazar, persevered in virtue to the end, never rejecting his faith nor God.

The second, Zaccheus, reaches a nobility of spirit through his encounter with Christ.

After years of dishonesty and collaboration as a tax collector for the Roman occupation, Zaccheus has come to his senses.

Deep down in his conscience, a sense of unease was stirring, and it was this that prompted him to look for Jesus.

His soul was yearning for God and for forgiveness, like "a dry weary land without water" (Ps 63:2).

 

Zaccheus had to show determination to catch a glimpse of Christ. He had to fight through the crowd and climb a tree.

All of this showed that his longing for reconciliation with God was real, and his determination was rewarded (cf. Deut 4:29-31).

This is why Jesus declares that he must come stay at his house and that "salvation has come to this house today."

Zaccheus is welcoming God back into his life, and God Incarnate enters with jubilation. Zaccheus is ennobled by Christ,

who restores the tax collector to righteousness and sets him on the path of generous love.