Reflection on the Gospel of Tuesday Week 33 by Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 

SPIRITUAL GROWTH

(Luke 19:1-10)

The Gospel of today presents to us the effort made by Zacchaeus to see the Lord. He climbed the sycamore tree. He didn't allow his stature to be a hindrance for him. He didn't allow the many things that made him fall short of the glory of God to keep him down perpetually. He made up for all he lost by climbing.

This is interesting. In our today's world of make-up where makeup artists are really making it big by adding beauty into the lives of some persons through enhancement, we have a lesson to learn from them. Spiritual makeup is necessary. Whatever we have lost should be regained by sincere effort. We have to take the decision not to lower our worth before God. We've got to boost our confidence in God once again.

Our sins may attempt to give us the feeling that God will not accept us again. We may look at the various persons who are better than us and think that we are too far away from God.

Lazarus felt this way for long and kept working behind. He kept lagging behind spiritually.  All he was able to see were his shortcomings.

But he took a step of growth. That step gave him an edge over his fears. He was able to see Jesus and experience Him personally.  Jesus made him promises that he could not believe. Jesus came to his life, entered his home and brought salvation there.

To grow spiritually therefore, we must like Zacchaeus long to see Jesus. We have to rise above the forces pulling us down; the forces of the crowd condemning us, the forces of our conscience accusing us and the force of uncertainty about the mercy of God.

To grow spiritually we must present ourselves as we are to God. Expose ourselves to God and allow Him to address us. To grow we must listen to the word of God, pay attention to his assuring word calling us to come to Him.

To grow spiritually we must say bye to our old evil ways. Let us climb the tree of the cross of our Lord Jesus to receive the salvation He gave mankind by His death thereon. Let us kneel at the tree of the confessional and receive forgiveness and never be lost.

Let us pray

Dearest Lord Jesus Christ, we want to grow. We really want to see you at work in our lives. We would like to behold you face to face after our earthly sojourn. Look and see the crowds blocking our view. We can no longer see clearly because of shortness in grace. Speak grace into our lives. Nourish us graciously through your word and the sacraments. May we grow into mature Christians and no longer be attached to the passing things of this world through Christ our Lord. Amen

St. Elizabeth of Hungary, pray for us.

God bless your Tuesday (33rd Week, Ordinary Time)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh