Reparation

10-30-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Anthony Okolo, C.S.Sp, V.F.

The first reading from the book of Wisdom tells how God overlooks our sins that we may repent. In the book of Ezekiel 18:23, “Have I any pleasure in the death of wicked, says the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live.” The book of Wisdom treats a wide range of topics like judgment, persecution, the virtue of wisdom and eternal life. However, today’s passage asserts that God’s creation is all good for if He hated a thing He would not have created it. As the book of Genesis says, after each creation God saw that it was very good.

Thus, whatever He created was very good and He blessed it. Critically, looking at the world and God’s creation today, it is certain that creation has fallen from what God intended it to be because of human pride. A human being, which is the highest of God’s creation, is not left behind as human beings have destroyed this beauty of creation by their individualism to assert their selfish ego over God’s creation. The passage this week invites us to repent and turn back to God to restore the beauty of God’s creation. Paul, in the second reading, exhorts the audience not to allow the return of Jesus in the second coming to become an excuse for them to be lazy. In another way, the claim by many that Jesus is coming soon should be evaluated with critical faith so that no one is deceived. The best way to prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ is a true repentance of heart which brings eternal peace.

Zacchaeus, in today’s Gospel, wants to see Jesus as Jesus passes by but could not because he was blocked by other people who are taller than him and he decides to climb the tree to have a good view of Jesus. To his greatest amazement, Jesus reaches the point where he was and says to him, “Zacchaeus come down quickly, today I must stay at your house.” This unique encounter is a testimony that at each time someone desires to see Jesus He would reveal himself to that person. It goes to prove that a sincere heart looking to see Jesus must not allow anything to become an obstacle to reach Jesus. Zacchaeus had a lot of things that could constitute challenges, but he never gave in to any of them. He was a wealthy man in the town and did not allow his wealth to become a barrier, he was not very tall and he climbed the tree, he was not liked by people because of his trade but he never allowed any of these things to prevent him from meeting Jesus. We should allow nothing to come between us and our desire to meet the Lord. The words of Jesus to Zacchaeus comforts to us that he does not condemn anyone but offers the great opportunity to repent.

Wishing you all a blessed Sunday.

Fr. Tony Okolo C.S.Sp., V.F.