"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost." - Luke 19:10
There seems to be quite a bit of seeking going on in today's scripture readings. Zacchaeus climbed up that famous sycamore tree seeking a glimpse of Jesus. He had to lose a few things in the process: his dignity first and then a good part of his wealth. The message seems to be that we have to lose something or be lost in order to be found and saved by Jesus. The encouraging thing is that Jesus is doing the seeking! That is why He came among us: to seek and to save that which is lost. Always in living a Gospel life we run into paradox. We seek Jesus who is first seeking us. We must lose ourselves in order to be found. Happily, in our faith tradition we have models to show us the way. Zacchaeus is one. In Elizabeth of Hungary, whose feast we observe today, we find another. She lost her wealth to jealous in-laws after her young husband's death. What she found was the image of God in the poor to whom she ministered as she lived the Gospel with courage and fortitude.
What do you need to lose so that you might be found by Jesus? Some 'thing', an attitude, a prejudice, a belief...
Jesus, You seek what is lost and you knock at the door of my heart to find me. Come in! Amen.
Reflection by:
Sr. Cathy Cahill
Did you know...
Sister Cathy Cahill, OSF, is a Franciscan Sister of Allegany who has been ministering in the diocese since 1989, primarily in retreat work and spiritual direction, She is a member of the community at St. Clare Convent in Tampa.
