Daily Gospel Reflection for November 15, 2022

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Reflection by Meggie Daly

Today's Gospel: Luke 19:1-10

The first thing that we hear in today’s Gospel is that Jesus planned only to pass through Jericho. He did not expect to have dinner or spend the night there. But as Zacchaeus finds out, Jesus is always on interrupt mode. As that was good news for Zacchaeus, it is good news for us, too. Jesus always has time for us, no matter what kind of mess we find ourselves in.

Reading on, we learn that Zacchaeus wasn’t very tall and that his fellow Jews didn’t well think of him. Yet, he was drawn to Jesus. Perhaps initially, the attraction was simply curiosity. But when Zacchaeus expends a bit of effort to see Jesus by climbing up into a tree, Jesus completely reorders his plans. He announces that he will stay at Zacchaeus’s house.

Isn’t that the way of our Lord? If we make the tiniest move towards Him, Jesus walks the rest of the way towards us. He compensates fully for our lack. Jesus knows the recesses of our hungry hearts before we are even aware of our famished cries. The Lord washes us clean in confession and comes home to our hearts in the Eucharist.

Zacchaeus owned his past wrongs and committed to making amends. One learns this in recovery groups: to ask forgiveness of those we have wronged and to decide how we can make amends.

When Jesus comes to our home, he leaves us with the Holy Spirit, Who instills poverty of spirit and humility. Those two gifts help us own our sins and make amends, if possible. Just as Jesus came to stay with Zacchaeus, He rejoices in the heart that has been swept clean and has made room for Him.

Ponder:

Am I open to the graces of unexpected interruptions?

Pray:

What a comfort to know that even before I call Your name, Lord, You have called mine. Enter into my heart and make it Your home.

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Jesus rejoices in the heart that has made room for Him. #dailygospel

Copyright 2022 Meggie K. Daly

Meggie K. Daly, a retired research scientist, is the author of For the Sake of His Sorrowful Passion: Praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet with Scripture and Art and Bead by Bead: The Scriptural Rosary. She is the mother of six adult children and six grandchildren.