Today Salvation Comes

November 3, 2019

These are powerful words in the Gospel, “Today salvation has come to this house.”  We all want to become recipients of this announcement.  Zacchaeus climbs a tree, goes out on a limb, and he and Jesus spot each other.  In this connection Zacchaeus is moved by the encounter; he changes his life, makes donations to the poor and those he hurt.  It is a life changing encounter with Jesus.  Jesus wants to have that same encounter with us.  To do that we sometimes have to change our direction.  In my recent spiritual reflections on the Gospel, I have been reflecting on directional changes that take place and the result of what God is doing.  For me this has been a fruitful doorway through which to pray the Scriptures lately.  When we look at Zacchaeus, we see him climb a tree, moving upward so he could get a look at a popular prophet.  This is symbolic because so often we look upwards to the heavens.  He is traveling upward when he climbs the tree.  Yet in the encounter with Jesus, Zacchaeus changes direction.  Jesus calls him down from the high place.  This too can contain symbolism.  So often we think everything downward is negative. Yet in this encounter with Jesus, salvation comes to Zacchaeus when the direction in which he moves is opposite of where he was going.  Immediately on level ground, Jesus inspired Zacchaeus to repair the hurt and crime of his past.  Here is a deeper reality that I find spiritually stimulating.  Zacchaeus climbed up on his own, but he climbed down at the sound of the voice of Jesus, with the guidance of the Lord.  Life changes when we allow the voice of Jesus to lead us.  So often we climb upward on our own, and we think our spirituality will get us somewhere, but what Jesus is really inviting us to do is climb down with Him on level ground, look at Him face to face and allow the burning love He has for us to transform our hearts and lives.  It won’t change us if we are not listening.  It won’t change us if we are not on level ground listening to the invitation of Jesus over and over.

God wants to meet us in new places, but the only way to get there is to listen to the voice of our Savior and let Him lead, even if it means we have to retrace our steps.  When I feel the closest to the Lord is when I am not going out on a limb on my own.  When I am best at ministry is when I am on level ground, walking in humility, letting the Lord lead.

We all want salvation to enter our homes today.  Jesus offers Himself in the Eucharist to enter us.  The challenge is to listen, to be willing to retrace our steps and welcome Him into the vulnerability of our lives.

Reverend  John J. Ouper

 

 

 

 

These are powerful words in the Gospel, “Today salvation has come to this house.”  We all want to become recipients of this announcement.  Zacchaeus climbs a tree, goes out on a limb, and he and Jesus spot each other.  In this connection Zacchaeus is moved by the encounter; he changes his life, makes donations to the poor and those he hurt.  It is a life changing encounter with Jesus.  Jesus wants to have that same encounter with us.  To do that we sometimes have to change our direction.  In my recent spiritual reflections on the Gospel, I have been reflecting on directional changes that take place and the result of what God is doing.  For me this has been a fruitful doorway through which to pray the Scriptures lately.  When we look at Zacchaeus, we see him climb a tree, moving upward so he could get a look at a popular prophet.  This is symbolic because so often we look upwards to the heavens.  He is traveling upward when he climbs the tree.  Yet in the encounter with Jesus, Zacchaeus changes direction.  Jesus calls him down from the high place.  This too can contain symbolism.  So often we think everything downward is negative. Yet in this encounter with Jesus, salvation comes to Zacchaeus when the direction in which he moves is opposite of where he was going.  Immediately on level ground, Jesus inspired Zacchaeus to repair the hurt and crime of his past.  Here is a deeper reality that I find spiritually stimulating.  Zacchaeus climbed up on his own, but he climbed down at the sound of the voice of Jesus, with the guidance of the Lord.  Life changes when we allow the voice of Jesus to lead us.  So often we climb upward on our own, and we think our spirituality will get us somewhere, but what Jesus is really inviting us to do is climb down with Him on level ground, look at Him face to face and allow the burning love He has for us to transform our hearts and lives.  It won’t change us if we are not listening.  It won’t change us if we are not on level ground listening to the invitation of Jesus over and over.

 

God wants to meet us in new places, but the only way to get there is to listen to the voice of our Savior and let Him lead, even if it means we have to retrace our steps.  When I feel the closest to the Lord is when I am not going out on a limb on my own.  When I am best at ministry is when I am on level ground, walking in humility, letting the Lord lead.

 

We all want salvation to enter our homes today.  Jesus offers Himself in the Eucharist to enter us.  The challenge is to listen, to be willing to retrace our steps and welcome Him into the vulnerability of our lives.

 

 

Reverend  John J. Ouper