1ST READING
Jesus
calls each of us to make a decision to either follow where He leads or
go our own way. Obviously He wants us to choose the former but love
demands that we be given the choice and He will respect that. However,
He will never stop trying to convince us to change our minds and repent.
This is the nature of His undying love for us. Let us pray that we will
open our hearts to it always.
Revelation 3:1-6, 14-22
1 I,
John, heard the Lord saying to me: “To the angel of the Church in
Sardis, write this: ‘The one who has the seven spirits of God and the
seven stars says this: “I know your works, that you have the reputation
of being alive, but you are dead. 2 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. 3 Remember then how you accepted and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not watchful, I will come
like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come upon you. 4 However,
you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments;
they will walk with me dressed in white, because they are worthy. 5 The
victor will thus be dressed in white, and I will never erase his name
from the book of life but will acknowledge his name in the presence of
my Father and of his angels. 6 Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’ 14 To the
angel of the Church in Laodicea, write this: ‘The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the source of God’s creation, says this: 15 “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For
you say, ‘I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,’ and yet
do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
18 I
advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich,
and white garments to put on so that your shameful nakedness may not be
exposed, and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and chastise. Be earnest, therefore, and repent. 20 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. 21 I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself first won the victory
and sit with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
P S A L M
Psalm 15:2-3, 3-4, 5
R: I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
2 He who walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart 3 and slanders not with his tongue. (R) Who harms not his fellow man, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; 4 by whom the reprobate is despised, while he honors those who fear the Lord. (R) 5 Who lends not
his money at usury and accepts no bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be disturbed. (R)
GOSPEL
Zacchaeus
is an interesting study. It is evident that the sin of corruption had
somehow captured his heart and that, as a tax collector, he had ample
opportunity to practice this vice. However, something new has happened
and he has been convicted of his sinful ways. It is good for us to see
that Zacchaeus decides that repentance is not enough. He needs to make
restitution for the sins he has committed. Let us also seek to repair
the hurt our sins have caused wherever possible.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
God loved us, and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
Luke 19:1-10
1 At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. 2 Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, 3 was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. 5
When
he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come
down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 And he came down quickly and received him with joy. 7 When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” 8 But
Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my
possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted
anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”
think: Jesus calls each of us to make a decision to either follow where He leads or go our own way.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
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God’s special verse/thought for me today_
_____________________________________
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Jeremiah 35-38
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