St James Catholic Church

If any of you are vertically challenged, you know what it means to not see over someone's head in church, at a theatre, or some athletic event.  In today’s Gospel, Zacchaeus, a short in stature tax collector, has to climb a tree in order to see Jesus.  We likely have it much easier to come to church and encounter our Lord.  We don’t have to go up a tree to find Jesus.  We experience His presence right here and now in the company of other believers, in the learning of God’s word, and in the Eucharist itself.

Luke tells us that Jesus intended to pass through the town of Jericho, implying that Jericho itself was an insignificant town on the way to Jerusalem.  But when he sees Zacchaeus in the sycamore tree, he doesn’t just stop, he stays.  Here is a lost sheep like the one the Good Shepherd pursued in the desert.  Here is a penitent tax collector, a thief, promising to repay all that he had taken from anyone.  Here is one of God’s children, a sinner, anxious to see Jesus.  “I want to stay in your house today.”  Exactly the kind of person Jesus came to save, and so our Lord found himself right at home. 

Sometimes our ability to see Jesus is blocked and we struggle through life, losing our way, unaware that mercy and forgiveness are right within our reach.  We are called to approach Jesus with humility and repentance like Zacchaeus, or the tax collector in the temple last Sunday.  We have that opportunity today.  Our Lord is here today, in our house of sinners, here to bring the good news of salvation, for “today salvation has come to this house, for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:9-10).  If I were in Zacchaeus's shoes, what wrongs would I pledge to make right?  What bold promises would I make?

Love, Peace, Joy,

Fr. Bob

November 1st is the Solemnity of All Saints, a holy day of obligation.  We will celebrate Mass at 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM.  We honor all the men and women who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith and ask their intercessory help in our prayers.