＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Wisdom of Solomon 11: 22-12:2

 For the entire world lies before you,

just enough to tip the scales, a drop of morning dew falling on the ground. But because you are almighty, you are merciful to all; you overlook sins and give your children time to repent.   You love everything that exists and hate nothing that you have made; had you hated anything, you would not have formed it.

 How could anything endure if you did not will it? And how could anything last that you had not willed?   You have compassion on all because all is yours, O Lord, lover of life.

 In fact your immortal spirit is in all.  And so by degrees you correct those who sin, you admonish them, reminding them how they have strayed so that turning away from evil they may trust in you, Lord.

 

Ps  145  I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God. 

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

 2 Thessalonians 1: 11-2:2

This is why we constantly pray for you; may our God make you worthy of his calling. May he, by his power, fulfill your good purposes, and your work, prompted by faith. In that way, the name of Jesus, our Lord, will be glorified through you, and you, through him, according to the loving plan of God and of Christ Jesus, the Lord.

Brothers and sisters, let us speak about the coming of Christ Jesus, our Lord, and our gathering to meet him. Do not be easily unsettled. Do not be alarmed by what a prophet says, or by any report, or by some letter said to be ours, saying, the day of the Lord is at hand.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Luke 19: 1-10

 When Jesus entered Jericho and was passing go­ing 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：

READ: “Salvation has come to this house today,” is a wonderful declaration from the mouth of Jesus in the gospel today. The first reading speaks about second chances for our lives to turn around, to renounce evil and to trust in the Lord.

REFLECT: The Lord desires that we all be saved. But time and again we fail and our lives miss turning around for God. the good news is that God is compassionate and he does not will that any of us perish. He gives us second chances to understand how much we have allowed evil and wickedness to run our lives. He is giving us another time to show repentance and return to his embrace. This was how he blessed the life of Zaccheus.

PRAY: Disturb my life, Lord and help me see that being with you is what truly matters in life.

ACT: List all your sins (they keep us away from God) and then make a firm resolve to heal them one by one.