Dear Friend,
Let our families learn from the experience of Zaccheus in meeting Jesus.
Please read the Gospel for this coming Sunday (Luke 19: 1-10) to your family. Then request any of them to relate this meeting of Zaccheus and Jesus. Discuss as many details of the encounter as each of you may remember –
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Jesus passing through Jericho on His way to Jerusalem,
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who was Zaccheus and why he wanted to see Jesus,
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what he did to see Jesus,
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what Jesus said to him when He saw him,
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the response of Zaccheus to the request of Jesus,
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the reaction of the people to Jesus patronizing Zaccheus,
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the conversion of Zaccheus, and
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the final comment of Jesus.
To prepare the family for the Mass on Sunday, request them to pray on this Scripture during the prior week.
Meditation ~
During the week, request each member of the family to go to a quiet place and to sit comfortably. Try some breathing exercises to relax. Then meditate on the following:
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What is God revealing to me through the person of Jesus in this event? (What are the values, attitudes and/or ways of relating with people Jesus is showing in this event for me to know His Father better?)
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In what event in my life (here and now) should I apply any of these values, attitudes and/or ways of relating with people?
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What concrete action must I do to respond to Jesus?
Contemplation ~
To know the Father better, you may want to enter the experience of Zaccheus.
Imagine yourself in his place that day.
Your are a tax collector and you are rich. You heard Jesus is passing through your town and you want to see Him. Why? This Son of David had just healed a blind man of Jericho. You wonder, "Can Jesus also help me and heal my broken relationship with the people?"
You hear the excitement of the people as Jesus approaches. But you cannot see Him as you are
behind them all and you are short. The people do not respect you to give way for you to have a better view.
You become desperate and must do something. Yes, that sycamore tree. You climb it and can now
see Jesus coming right under you.
Jesus sees you and calls your name. You are surprise, "How did He know my name?" He said He
wants to stay in your house.
You want to say to Him, "Do I deserve this honor? Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof." In fact, the people are grumbling that Jesus should be a guest of a sinner.
But Jesus welcomed Himself into your house and is comfortable in your company. You feel the grace of God pouring into you that moment and you are in great joy.
To express your happiness, you said to Jesus, "The half of my goods, Lord, I give to the poor, and if I cheated anyone, I pay him back four times as much." Jesus looking at you said, "Salvation has come to this house today, for this man is also a true son of Abraham. The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost."
Can we make this happen today?
As we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, can we feel the joy of Zaccheus and respond to Jesus?
Joe & Charito
THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF MANILA'S
ONLINE RESOURCE FOR FAMILY MINISTRIES
www.simbahayan.org
servants@simbahayan.org
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