God Responds Quickly To Any Sign Of Faith

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Brooklyn Center

Sunday 3, November 2019

The story of Zacchaeus teaches us how quickly God responds to any sign of faith. Zacchaeus’ climbing of the sycamore tree wasn’t out of curiosity. It wasn’t a passing glance or a passing interest to see Jesus. He really wanted to see Jesus. He had a deep hunger to encounter the Lord of second chance. Although he was despised by many for working for the Roman Empire as a tax collector, he was determined to see Jesus. It’s possible he had been looking for an opportunity to turn a new leaf. Of course, his people won’t believe him and won’t even provide such an opportunity. So, when he heard that Jesus was passing by, he seized the moment. 

Zacchaeus was a wealthy man. But praise God he realized that his wealth was ill-gotten. Praise God he realized that filthy wealth cannot buy salvation. Praise God he discovered that although he had plenty of material riches, he was lacking in what really matters to God. Praise God that he had the humility to set aside his honor, pride and whatever else he thought of himself, and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see the poor Carpenter from Nazareth. Praise God that Zacchaeus knew it worths nothing to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul. Praise God he did not allow any obstacle— the crowd, his short stature, ego, etc. to become his stumbling block. He desperately wanted to see Jesus, but even before he expressed his intention, Jesus reached out to him: “Zacchaeus, hurry down. I mean to stay at your house today.” 

Sisters and brothers, God responds to us more readily when we show the least interest in him. He doesn’t play hard to get; he is not reluctant to accept us. When we seek him, he responds, because love is all that God is. God’s DNA is love. 

Check this out! After Jesus called Zacchaeus by name, what’s the next word he uttered? It is “hurry.” The word “hurry” means “don’t wait,” “don’t hesitate.” So to all of us, the good Lord is simply saying, “Seize the moment of conversion and salvation now.” 

God bless you!