Daily Catholic Lectio
Tuesday, 21 November 2023
Tuesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
2 Maccabees 6:18-31. Luke 19:1-10
Zacchaeus and Eleazar
‘The swiftness of Zacchaeus and the courage of Eleazar are the lessons for our faith journey.’
The readings of the day bring before us two personalities: Zacchaeus and Eleazar. Today we commemorate the presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary’s swiftness and courage are known to us from the Gospel texts.
The Presentation of Mary commemorates the Virgin Mary being offered in the Temple in Jerusalem. While this event is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, it has been a part of Christian tradition since the early centuries of the Church. The earliest reference to this event comes from the apocryphal Gospel of James, a non-canonical text, which describes Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anne, presenting her in the Temple at a young age. Mary’s presentation in the Temple is seen as an act of consecration, dedicating her life to God’s service from a young age. According to tradition, Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anne, made a vow to dedicate their child to God, and the presentation is the fulfillment of that vow.
Luke introduces Zacchaeus with two phrases: ‘Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus,’ and ‘Zacchaeus was short.’ The name Zacchaeus has two possible roots: ‘Zakar Yhwh’ (‘God has remembered’), ‘Zakah Yhwh’ (‘God alone’).
God remembered him. That is why Jesus made him come down from the tree.
Zacchaeus arrived at the point in his life where he realised that God alone was enough. He begins to leave his belongings, for he thought they were hindrances to Jesus.
Zacchaeus had three lacks: (a) He was a person of short stature – physical obstacle; (b) He had low self-esteem because people looked down upon him – psychological obstacle; and (c) He was considered a sinner – spiritual obstacle.
His lacks were removed in three stages: (a) Jesus chooses to stay with Zacchaeus; (b) Jesus grants salvation to Zacchaeus in the ‘now’ of his life; and (c) Zacchaeus learns that it is in giving up that we grow up.
Zacchaeus, who was hiding behind the leaves on the tree, stood in front of them all. The swiftness of Zacchaeus changes the course of his life. The lacks were removed, and fullness came.
The first reading brings before us the character of Eleazar. He is introduced with three characteristics: (a) foremost scribe; (b) person of advanced age; and (c) noble appearance.
He was forced to eat pork. He was even advised that he could pretend to eat in order to satisfy the king. He declined.
He foresaw three impacts of his action: (a) This act of pretence will be unbecoming to an old person; (b) He will be a king-pleaser instead of a God-pleaser; and (c) This would cause scandal to the young people.
Eleazar, foreseeing the consequences, walks to the instrument of torture.
‘The swiftness of Zacchaeus and the courage of Eleazar are the lessons for our faith journey.’
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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