Readings
Reading I: Wisdom 11:22--12:2 |
Preaching TipPreachers vs. Professors A preacher is: 1. An idea. (The topic that begets the thought) At first glance, you might think that all of the above is a kind of oratorical silk hat that could set just as formally on the head of a university lecturer. There is, however, a deep chasm of difference between lecturer and preacher.
Ten Responsible Minutes, by Joseph E. Manton, C.SS.R. p30 |
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
ZAQUEO, HOY TENGO QUE ALOJARME EN TU CASA
Hermanas y hermanos:
Cristo nos invita a hacer una parada en la vida. Quiere encontrarse contigo. Él sabe cómo se encuentra cada uno, sus cosas, sus ocupaciones y su remolino de trajín: de la casa a la escuela, de la escuela al trabajo, del trabajo al colegio, del colegio a la casa, de la casa a las compras.
Conoce el esfuerzo de nuestras manos desgastadas por la jornada. Sabe con lo que contamos: agua y tierra, lodo. Pero sabe también todo lo que lo necesitamos. Por eso, al vernos como a Zaqueo en el sicómoro de la oficina, de la tienda, del hogar, nos mira y nos llama: "hoy tengo que alojarme en tu casa".
1. Zaqueo quería ver a Jesús, pero muchas cosas se lo impedían. Era bajito y pecador, pero era un hombre decidido y encontró la manera de superar los problemas. Por una razón o por otra, Zaqueo soy yo. Es una llamada que exige una respuesta.
La llamada rompe nuestros esquemas y nos despierta del letargo del ir y venir. Un "hoy" que se realiza. ¿En dónde? "¡en tu casa!"; es Jesús quien lo pide, no yo. Un día toca a tus puertas y te dice: "dame hospedaje". Jesucristo no violenta, conoce nuestros pies empolvados de tanto andar.
2. No es común que la salvación de un hombre comience con el deseo de subir a un sicómoro para ver a Jesús como le ocurrió a Zaqueo; y mucho menos que termine en un banquete en donde reparte toda su fortuna. Sin embargo, basta recordar la historia de nuestro encuentro con Cristo para descubrir detalles aún más sorprendentes.
Es todo un misterio, pero la verdad es que no podemos buscar a Dios si antes no lo hemos encontrado. Jesús siempre escucha, pero también pide ser escuchado "hoy". No mañana. "hoy". Una sesión continuada. Aunque estés cansado y fastidiado, él te comprende, pero ¡hoy!
3. Conocer a Jesucristo y amarlo es el principal deber de un cristiano. Hoy quiere entrar a la casa de cada uno y hemos de abrirle las puertas de par en par. Donde entra Él todo se llena de alegría y salvación. Nuestra vida se transforma. "Donde entra mucho el sol, dice Santa Teresa, el alma ve su miseria, toda se ve muy turbia".
Cristo está alargando la mano como pordiosero: "¡por favor, hoy!". No te pide que descuides tus deberes, sólo quiere estar un día contigo, en tu casa, para que la llama incendie y consuma tu corazón de amor. Quemarse, no es lo mismo que abrasarse. Lo primero todo el mundo lo alcanza, lo otro muy pocos se atreven. Te pide sencillamente entrar y esto implica un espacio en tu corazón. Atiéndelo, trátalo como huésped.
¡Sólo un día! ¡Dios es tu huésped, alégrate, que el Gozo entrará en ti si lo recibes! Muéstrale tu casa, que se sienta bienvenido. No descuides los detalles de limpieza y orden y verás que el día con minúsculas se hace Día con letras grandes.
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
ZACCHEUS, I INTEND TO STAY AT YOUR HOUSE TODAY
Sisters and brothers,
Christ invites us all to take a break in life. He wants to meet with us. He knows how we all are, our things, our occupations, and the whirlwind of our comings and goings: from home to school, from school to work, from work to school, from school back home, from home to the store.
He knows the effort of our worn hands. He knows what we are: water, earth, mud. But he also knows everything we need. That's why when he sees us like Zaccheus in the sycamore tree of our office, the store, our house, he sees us and calls to us: "I intend to stay at your house today."
1. Zaccheus wanted to see Jesus, but lots of things got in the way. He was short and he was a sinner, but having made his decision he was able to find the way to overcome his problems. In one way or another, I am Zaccheus. It is a calling that requires an answer.
Christ's call breaks our mold and wakes us from the sluggishness of our daily comings and goings. "Today" becomes a reality. Where? "In your house" -- Jesus is the one asking, not me. One day he comes knocking at your door and says, "let me stay here." Jesus Christ doesn't force himself on us, he knows our feet are dusty from the long road we have traveled.
2. It's not normal for a man's salvation to start with the desire to climb a sycamore tree to see Jesus, as was the case of Zaccheus; it is still less ordinary for it to it to end at a banquet where he gives away all his wealth. Nevertheless, it can help us recall the history of our own encounter with Christ in order to find even more surprising details.
It's a big mystery, but the truth is that we cannot look for God if we haven't already found him. Jesus is always listening, but he also asks for us to listen to him "today." Not tomorrow, "today." Right away. Even though you are tired and annoyed, he understands, but it needs to happen today!
3. The main duty of a Christian is to know and love Jesus Christ. Today he wants to enter each of your homes, so we need to open wide the doors for him. In any house he enters, there is fullness of joy and salvation. Our life is transformed. Saint Teresa used to say, "Where there is a lot of sun, the soul sees its misery and seems very dim."
Christ stretches out his hand like a beggar, "Please, today!" He doesn't ask you to neglect your duty, he only wants to spend a day with you, in your house, so the flame of his love may set your heart on fire and consume it. Being burned is not the same as being consumed. Everyone experiences the former; not many attain the latter. He is just asking you to let him in, and that means leaving space in your heart. Listen to him, treat him as a guest.
Just one day! God is your guest; rejoice in the Joy that will fill you if you let it! Show him around your home, let him feel welcome. Don't neglect the details of order and cleanliness and you will see that the day in lower case letters becomes the Day with capital letters.