LORD, HAVE MERCY - 31ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (10/30/2022)

31ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
October 30, 2022

Wisdom 11:22-12:2
Psalm 145
2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2
Luke 19:1-10

LORD, HAVE MERCY

"The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the plain beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes"  So says Shakespeare in Merchant of Venice, Act 4, Scene 1. The Psalmist would say: "The Lord is good to all and His tender mercies are over all his works" (Psalm 145:5). Today we hear about God's mercy and see mercy in action in the gospel.

WISDOM

The Old Testament Book of Wisdom is literally a storehouse of wisdom for so many areas of life. Today's reading concerns God's mercy - the overwhelming compassion of our God. "You have mercy on all, because you can do all things; and you overlook people's sins that they may repent."

The reading goes on to say that God wants no one to perish but gives ample warning that they may repent and abandon their wickedness. The Responsorial, Psalm 145, is a beautiful hymn of praise to God for his goodness and mercy.

GOSPEL

Today's gospel is yet another episode unique to St. Luke. It is the account of Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector in Jericho, who climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus. Along Jericho's main street today, there is a lot filled with sycamore trees. Invariably, someone in a pilgrimage group will ask, "So which one did Zacchaeus climb?"

Jesus stops and indicates his wish to stay at Zacchaeus' home, triggering some murmuring among the onlookers. Zacchaeus makes his defense: "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." Jesus extends mercy and compassion to the despised tax collector Zacchaeus, who responds with concrete signs of repentance.

2 THESSALONIANS

Our second reading is beginning of St. Paul's Letter to the Thessalonians. Paul begins with encouragement and prayer. He then proceeds to reassure them about the Second Coming of Christ. Paul exhorts them - and us - "not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly or to be alarmed either by a "spirit" or by an oral statement, or by a letter allegedly from us to the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.

Although today's reading ends here, it should be noted that the following verses, 2 Thess. 2:3-12, give us very important information on what will happen in the End Times before the Lord comes again. One thing is absolutely certain - we are 2000 years closer to the Lord's Second Coming now than when these words were first written!

THANK GOD FOR SECOND CHANCES

I think that's what Zacchaeus would say and the rest of us - sinners also - would add an "Amen" to that. we can only be grateful to God for his mercy and for giving us an opportunity to repent. Praise God for John 3:16, which is used as the Alleluia Verse today: "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life. Alleluia, alleluia."