Nov 16, 2010 - Lukewarm?

Tuesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

 

Today's Scripture

 

The readings for this week look forward to the Solemnity of Christ the King on Sunday, November 21.  The theme expressed in them is repentance at the expectation of Christ’s coming.  In the first reading, the writer of Revelation warns the churches not to be lukewarm but rather to remain steadfast in faith.  The metaphor of the undesirability of what is lukewarm is one that most people can appreciate.  In warm weather it is natural for people to drink cold beverages to slake their thirst.   And conversely, in cold weather people drink warm beverages to warm them from the inside after they’ve come in from the cold.  The problem with lukewarm beverages is that people do not find them to be refreshing either on cold or warm days.  No one wants to drink lukewarm soda, or coffee once it has cooled off. 

 

In describing some churches and some people in those churches as lukewarm the Revelation passage suggests that it is a good thing for us to examine our own consciences from time to time, to see if we are lukewarm in our faith.  And if we are, then to take the steps needed to become inspired once again.  The times particularly set aside in the church calendar for preparing ourselves to receive Christ—that is, advent and lent—are very opportune times to perform this examination of conscience.  

 


A model for the kind of repentance we are called to is Zacchaeus.  As a tax collector, Zacchaeus was co

 

nsidered by his own people as having ‘sold out’ to the Romans.  In addition, he was probably engaged in corruption and extortion—deriving income from charging people extra, beyond what they were required to pay to the Roman government.  And so Zacchaeus has plenty to repent for.  While this is true, it is not the most important thing about Zacchaeus.  More important is the fact that he does repent.  He is not just paying lip service, since he does something in addition to merely saying he’s sorry.  That is, he gives away more than half of his ill gotten wealth to the poor.  Thus, Zacchaeus does not just repent, he also does penance.  And further, he changes his life once he realizes that what he is doing is not right. 


Another important feature of the story of Zacchaeus is the clear excitement that he has in waiting for Jesus.  His desire to see Jesus is so great that he climbs up into a tree.  When Jesus sees the lengths to which Zacchaeus goes to see him, he calls him down and speaks with him personally.  Jesus even rewards Zacchaeus with a personal visit to his home.  As a result, Zacchaeus’ efforts to encounter Jesus result in a deeper relationship with him.  This week presents a perfect opportunity to consider whether we have the same excitement for meeting Jesus that Zacchaeus had, and if not, to get rid of whatever is standing in the way of doing so.  Jesus even makes the first move in this relationship.  As the first reading states, he is standing at the door knocking.  Now it is up to us to let him into our lives.

 

Joel Schickel