11/17/2026 (Tuesday) Today’s Gospel reading: 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, “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 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.”
11/17/2026 (Tuesday) Today’s Gospel reflection /homily / sermon: Luke 19:1-10
Theme: When Jesus Comes Into Our Lives
The story of Zacchaeus reminds us that no one is too sinful to be forgiven, no one is too lost to be found, and no one is beyond the reach of God’s love. It tells us that a genuine encounter with Jesus can transform not only our hearts but also the way we live. Using the word HOUSE, let us reflect on five important lessons from this beautiful encounter.
H – HUMILITY OPENS THE DOOR TO GOD
Zacchaeus was a wealthy and influential tax collector, but he did not allow his position or reputation to prevent him from seeking Jesus. He was willing to climb a tree just to get a glimpse of Him. This teaches us that encountering God requires humility. Sometimes, our pride, achievements, and social status become obstacles to our spiritual growth. We think we already know enough or have everything under control. But the truth is, we all need Jesus. The moment we humble ourselves and acknowledge our need for Him, we open the door to a deeper relationship with God.
O – OPEN YOUR HEART TO HIS CALL
Jesus noticed Zacchaeus among the crowd and reached out to him. While others saw only a sinner, Jesus saw a person worthy of love and another opportunity. This reminds us that God sees beyond our mistakes, weaknesses, and failures. He knows our struggles and understands our deepest desires. But we must be willing to respond when He calls. We cannot experience transformation if we continually close our hearts to His presence. Let us remember that God’s invitation is not reserved for perfect people. It is extended to everyone who is willing to welcome Him.
U – UNDERGO A GENUINE TRANSFORMATION
Zacchaeus did not simply welcome Jesus into his house; he allowed Jesus to change his life. His encounter with Christ inspired him to become generous and to make things right with those he had wronged. This is what genuine conversion means. It is not simply attending Mass, joining religious activities, praying regularly, or listening to God’s Word. These are important, but our faith must also be reflected in our actions. If we claim to follow Jesus, there should be a visible difference in how we treat others, how we use our resources, and how we respond to people who need our help.
S – SHARE THE BLESSINGS YOU RECEIVE
One of the most remarkable changes in Zacchaeus was his willingness to share his wealth with the poor and repay those he had cheated. His heart became generous because he experienced the generosity of God’s mercy. This teaches us that blessings are not meant to be kept exclusively for ourselves. Whatever God has entrusted to us—our time, talents, resources, knowledge, and opportunities—can become instruments of blessing for others. True Christianity is not measured by how much we receive but by how much love we are willing to give.
E – EMBRACE EVERYONE WITH MERCY
The crowd criticized Jesus for associating with a sinner. But Jesus demonstrated that His mission was to seek and save those who were lost. This challenges us to examine how we treat people. Do we easily judge others because of their past? Do we avoid people whose lives are different from ours? Or do we offer understanding, compassion, and opportunities for change? We must remember that the same mercy we receive from God should also be extended to others.
The story of Zacchaeus reminds us that Jesus does not simply want to visit our homes; He wants to dwell in our hearts. And when He enters, something must change.
Let us therefore make our hearts a HOUSE where humility welcomes Him, openness listens to Him, transformation follows Him, generosity serves others, and mercy embraces everyone.
Because when Jesus enters our lives, we may never remain the same again.
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