Reading Reflections: Nov. 4, 2007

November 4, 2007
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time


READING 1: Wisdom 11:22-12:2

Reading 1 Reflection:

In this reading we are presented with a "God's eye view" of the universe and of our own lives. Yet, far from making us and the rest of our world feel small and insignificant, we are reminded of our own dignity and of the great value of everything God has made. For what God hated, he would not have fashioned! Every plant, every animal, every person God made is loved by God and deserves our respect and love as well. Do we love the universe, the solar system, our world, our fields and streams and mountains and valleys, our wild and domestic animals, as God the creator loves them? Do we love ourselves and other human beings as God the creator loves us? How can we do this? (Consider: The more we fill our lives with love, the less room we will have in them for sin. We will "abandon wickedness.")

READING 2: 2 Thessalonians 1:11--2:2

Reading 2 Reflection:

The writer of this letter is encouraging the Christians in Thessalonica. They are in the midst of a conflict. They are being led astray by a false prophet who has told them that the "day of the Lord" has already come! The Thessalonians have been looking forward to the Lord's coming as much as anyone else, and to think that Jesus has come already and left them to their earthly struggle is a huge disappointment! It has shaken their faith. Is this all there is? We all hate to hear, "It was great! Too bad you missed it!" or "It's over, and there's nothing left to look forward to." We would never want to hear that about the coming of Jesus and his kingdom!

Gospel:Luke 19:1-10

Gospel Reflection:

The incident in today's gospel may well be a God's eye view of each one of us! We are all "little," like Zaccheus, trying to see Jesus from a distance, and often getting ourselves up into trees or into other difficult situations and needing Jesus to come by and call us back down to earth, back down to an honest relationship with him. "When you come down from there, and admit your need," says Jesus, "we'll talk, heart to heart."

Discussion Questions for Gospel:

Try to see this story from the point of view of Zaccheus. What kind of person was he? What kind of job did he have? Was he respected by others? Feared? Well-liked? Trusted? Why would Jesus want to be his friend? At what exact point, do you think, did Zaccheus change? What brought him joy? What did he do to show that he had changed?

How are you like the "old Zaccheus," before he met Jesus? How are you like the "new Zaccheus," after he was found and saved by Jesus?

After you have read this story, what do you think about Jesus? Would you like Jesus to "come to your house?" (Hint: If you ask him to, he will!)