Tuesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readings

Today's first reading from the Book of Revelation is appropriate since we are approaching the end of the liturgical year. Yesterday, we heard John's message to the Church at Ephesus. In today's first reading, we encounter John writing to Christians in Sardis and Laodicia on behalf Jesus. He stands at the door and knocks, if they open the door He will enter and dine with them. The Lord's message to the Church of Sardis is rather grim and challenging. For example the Lord says, "Be watchful and strengthen what is left, which is going to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God" (Rev 3:2). And again in the message to Laodicia the Lord says, "I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth (Rev 3:16-17). Rather, Jesus says to these Churches, they must welcome him with zeal as “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me (Rev 3:20).

Today's gospel reading is a perfect example of someone opening the door with zeal so that Jesus can dine with him. Zacchaeus was not cold or lukewarm. He climbed a tree to see Jesus and when Jesus came to him he opened his life to him in repentance. This event ends is Jesus "dining" with Zacchaeus.

That word "dine" is a very special word and is used elsewhere in the Greek for Jesus' desire to dine with the disciples at the Last Supper. And what we see unfold in the Book of Revelation, is the singing of angels and saints before the throne of God in heaven, and the Eucharistic lamb looking as though slain. This is why for Eastern Christians there is a long standing tradition of viewing the Book of Revelation as the icon, or image, of the liturgy of the Eucharist.

As we approach the end of the year, and prepare for the beginning of the new liturgical year with Advent, let us examine our lives to see if we are lukewarm. If so, let us like Zacchaeus repent and turn back to God with the zeal He desires. We see an image of such holy zeal in Zacchaeus who pledges to give half of his possessions to the poor.

We must live out our zeal in two ways. First, let us "dine" with Jesus in the Eucharist each Sunday. But then our Eucharist must lead us to others in need. If we do these two things, then we can not be like the churhes in Sardis and Laodicia. Let us live out our faith in zeal for the Lord.

- Jeff Morrow and Fr. Satish Joseph