THEY ALL COMPLAINED

PRAYER MOMENT 

Tuesday 18 November 2014

THEY ALL COMPLAINED

                     

Pause. Be still in God’s presence.

Reading: “They all complained when they saw what was happening. ‘He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house,‘ they said.” (Luke 19:1-10)

Reflection. As yesterday, when we saw the people telling Bartimaeus to keep quiet and not cause a stir, so today we see the people complaining when Zacchaeus shows signs of conversion after Jesus says, ‘I must stay in your house today.’ Zacchaeus, like Bartimaeus, is curious. He wants to see Jesus but he is a short guy so he has a problem. He climbs a tree just to have a look. At first it seems he did not want to get involved. But Jesus looks at him. He takes Zacchaeus’ odd gesture and uses it as an entry point to Zacchaeus’ heart. Something beautiful happens. But the people don’t like it. They complain. Why? What is happening is disturbing the normal way things are. Tax collectors are bad. End of story. Jesus should know that.. We have to ask where are we? Something like this happens every day. People surprise us if we allow them. Nobody is so bad that there isn’t a glimmer of curiosity and hope in them..    

Prayer. Lord, teach us to be alert and curious to all that happens around us. Help us to pick up the cries of those who are searching for a way..  Amen.  

David Harold-Barry SJ