Mercy: conversion and joy

Listening to the Spirit

Lord, thank you for the gift of Your Word
so that all your people may know and love You more
and understand You better.

As I go about my day may I not forget
the scriptures you have opened up for me.

Help me to recognize how You want for me
to apply Your Word to my daily life.

Holy Spirit, guided by Your Word,
may You enlighten my mind
and enkindle in my heart
a greater love for You and for others
in my family and in the world.

Amen.

Listening to the Word

Lk 19:1-10

At that time, Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy.

When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” And Jesus said to him, “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.”

Reflection

At the end of the mission month, the liturgy proposes a unique perspective on the vastness of divine mercy, which embraces the whole creation. The expression of God’s mercy is manifested in His desire for everybody to be saved. This desire for salvation is the core strength of the church’s mission to proclaim God’s mercy to all nations. The first reading, from the book of Wisdom, describes God’s mercy as without limits because He is the creator of all things.

The Gospel makes it clearer through the story of Zacchaeus that mercy is offered to people so that they may repent and obtain salvation. St. Luke’s Gospel emphasizes the compassion of Christ in his famous stories of God’s mercy, like the prodigal son, the lost sheep, the lost coin, etc. Zacchaeus’ story is also part of these narratives. Christ’s mercy towards Zacchaeus makes us reflect on two elements: conversion and joy. Divine mercy is not just a "feeling;" It produces fruits, and its fruits are conversion and joy.

Mercy and conversion

The first reading describes it poetically: “Therefore you rebuke offenders little by little, warn them and remind them of the sins they are committing, that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in you, O Lord!” It is interesting to note in this last verse that mercy does not actually eliminate justice. The recognition of the sin committed is a work of mercy within us, that is, repentance. Such recognition is, in some way, a work of justice that makes us "pay" for the evil committed. Mercy does not remove the work of justice, nor does justice exclude the power of mercy: they go together because they come from God.

This is even clearer in today's gospel text. Zacchaeus said to Jesus: “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” The greatness of the forgiveness received is expressed naturally in the magnitude of the change in attitudes and in the acts of restitution and justice.

Mercy and joy

Zacchaeus feels overwhelmed with joy for the salvation that has come to his house, as Christ himself declares to him (Lk 19:9). The experience of mercy is followed by a deep sense of liberation, accompanied by joy and praise. Zacchaeus’ desire to encounter Jesus brings him to do everything to get to Him, even climbing a tree. After this encounter, he was full of joy.

May we, too, experience God’s mercy and its fruits of conversion and joy.