In today's first and second readings we encounter two men: Eleazar, who is willing to give his very life in order to remain faithful to Yahweh and Zaccheaus, a chief tax collector, who is willing to risk ridicule and the resentment of the crowd in his desire to see Jesus. Eleazar suffers martyrdom at the hands of the king who orders that he submit to a sacrifice ordered by the king's decree that violates the Law of Moses. Zacchaeus, who climbs a sycamore tree to see Jesus as He passes by, is spotted by Jesus and asked to "come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house." The crowd grumbles about Jesus, saying: "He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner." Zaccheaus repents of his wrongdoing, as he cheated the people in his collection of taxes and says 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." Jesus assures Zacchaeus, saying: "Today salvation has gone to this house...For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost."
A couple of questions to consider: Would I be willing to sacrifice my life and refuse to violate the law of God, to break the ten Commandments, in the face of being scourged to death by not following a crowd taunting me to do so, as Eleazar was taunted to give in to the king's decree? Would I, like Zaccheas, risk being ridiculed by a crowd of people, by my family and friends, who know how I have violated other people's rights, or even ridiculed the faith, and here I am seeking Jesus, even going to extremes to see Him? Am I willing to do anything it takes to right restore my relationship with Jesus and seek Him above all, no matter what people say of me? Am willing to reconcile with "an enemy" even when others are taunting me to remain hostile with another person who may have hurt me in some way? May we have the courage of Eleazar and Zaccheaus in living our faith!
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