Today’s Gospel:  Luke 19:1-10

REFLECTION
In today's Gospel we hear the story of Zacchaeus - a wealthy man, a chief tax collector by trade. He participated in questionable business practices and people lived in fear of his power.  Practically anyone who cheats us is bad. That person also deserves bad things and can only do bad things.

Jesus saw Zacchaeus through the eyes of mercy. This mercy puts all men on the same level and doesn’t make a scale of worse or better sins.  He did not see Zaccheaus by his sins as the people did.

Zacchaeus witnessed the eyes of mercy when he was called, he experienced it when Jesus came to his house and then he surrendered to mercy and allow it to speak through him as he repaid his wrongs (four times) and giving to the poor.

Mercy believes though we are sinners, we deserve mercy and that mercy can work through us. Mercy does not believe “once a cheater, always a cheater”. We need to accept the invite, like Zaccheaus, to come down from the tree, to experience the full mercy God offers. We need to allow mercy to not only to work in us personally, but to allow it to speak through us to others.

Let mercy speak through you. Put on your ‘eyeglasses of mercy’ and see people as Jesus sees them.  Respond with mercy to those who you have cheated and wronged.   Respond with mercy to those who have wronged you.  Give the gift of mercy today!

- MA

Today's Reading:  Rev. 3:1-6

PRAYER
Almighty Father, thank you for your love and for seeing me in my sin and still have mercy upon me, a sinner! With your grace move in me to see those around me through the mercy you saw me in.  Let mercy speak through me, Lord, that I may be able to share it to those who need it, too.  In Jesus’ Name we pray.  Amen.