Margaret of Scotland, queen/

St. Gertrude the Great, virgin

＊＊＊ 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：

They say that boredom is the playground of the devil. It could also be the arena where God plays with His creatures. Take for example Zacchaeus. He is doing his work day in and day out.

The monotony of his daily schedule makes him eager for a little diversion. A famous man is passing by. Why not see Him just for the fun of it. But little does he know that it will change his life forever.

The encounter so marks him that he is willing to leave everything behind, his comforts, security and former life. All these he will set aside simply because Jesus at this particular boring day looks him in the eye and invites Himself to Zacchaeus’ heart.

The poor man is unable to resist. For the first time, someone looks at him without judgment. There is only pure acceptance. And so, Zacchaeus, the taxcollector and a sinner in the eyes of the Jews become Zacchaeus, the disciple of Jesus justified by the latter’s acceptance of who Zachaeus is.