XXXIth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Massimo Palombella
Today’s Gospel (Lk 19:1-10) tells us the interesting story of Zacchaeus, leader of the publicans and a rich man, who climbs a tree in order to be able to see Jesus.
In Zacchaeus, in some way, there is each one of us. In fact, all of us, like Zacchaeus, have climbed a tree. He has made us «climb up» the marriage, the children we have had, the important choices in our lives, (instances that place us with a public identity and somehow compromise us). It brought us up to the education we received, the experiences of life, the work we did for so many years, the need for peace, stability and security. Today «the tree» is my world, my beliefs, my habits, it is that kind of conquered ‘stability’ from which I can look at what is around. Above the tree everything is apparently in place, there is an answer for everything, there are rituals to be performed, there is a ‘mechanization’ of life that places me in a kind of tranquillity. There is an ethos, an implicit – but clear – code that governs my life, my relationships, and also, without my realising it, my horizon.
It was important to climb the tree, it engaged my life, it marked years of effort and fidelity, it motivated me, it gave meaning to my life. But in all this «the tree» could risk becoming my prison, my heavy «burden».
Like Zacchaeus, each of us is called to come down from the tree. “Coming down” from the tree is an action that removes me from the place in which I am hidden in an apparent peace, in a balance that is always to be guarded where the space is small and I am forced to be “huddled”, in defence, and where my best energies risk being engaged in order not to lose that “small” place that risks giving me the illusion of living, of being happy. That place that risks forcing me to be cowering instead of standing, preoccupied and ready to defend myself instead of living; that place from which I risk looking at reality as an external spectator, but, in the end, not living life as a protagonist.
Jesus, like to Zacchaeus, says to each one of us “Come down at once, for today I must stop at your house”, leave your apparent security, let me enter your house to make your life new, to heal your wounds, to love you as you really need to be loved.
The Communion antiphon for today’s celebration is taken from Psalm 15 (Ps 15:11) with the following text:
“Notas mihi fecisti vias vitæ,
adimplebis me lætítia cum viltu tuo, Domine.”
(You have made known unto me the ways of life;
you will fill me with joy at the sight of your countenance, O Lord).
The attached music, in Gregorian Chant, is taken from the Gradual Triplex published in Solesmes in 1979. The music track can be found on YouTube where there is no indication of interpretation.
A blessed Sunday and heartfelt greetings.
