We have two very different but important readings today at Mass. The gospel passage is one of “jumping for joy” and exaltation: on both the part of Zacchaeus and Jesus. Zacchaeus was chief tax collector - which meant that he was chief “traitor” as far as his own people were concerned. Tax collectors were mostly Hebrew people who worked for the occupying Roman government - collecting taxes - but allowed to add a certain “surcharge” for their own pockets! No wonder they were disliked and hated so much by their own people!
But in this case, Zacchaeus - in the presence of Jesus - after coming to know who he was and what his message was about - made a complete turnabout. He was so happy that now he would be able to make right all the wrongs he had done, and to live an upright and just life - BECAUSE HE HAD MET JESUS IN PERSON and he knew things had to change - and Jesus would be dining at his house! And Jesus was so very happy because someone had finally gotten the message he was trying to deliver!
Eleazar, in our first reading from the Old Testament, was certainly one who knew the God of Jesus - many years before Jesus arrived on the scene. And he knew that - at the time - following the Law of Moses was the best and only way to demonstrate true fidelity to the Covenant - until Jesus came and told us that fidelity to himself would supersede and replace the Mosaic Law. And so Eleazar was ready to die rather than to disobey the Law. And even though, because he was a very old and well like man, he was given a way out, he chose to stay the course - to be an example to the young - to be an example to the nation. What a heroic and brave thing Eleazar did! A true martyr of the Old Testament!
The reason Eleazar could do what he did was because “God came to visit and dine in the recesses of his heart and life! There seemed to be an unquenchable joy in his heart! He would do anything for God who lived so close to him and in him!
Like Eleazar and Zacchaeus we ought to invite God, we ought to invite Jesus to visit our house! We need welcome him! And want to get to know him better! We want to be able to live a noble and heroic life - never stepping down from what duty to God involves - even if it costs us our lives!
Both Eleazar and Zacchaeus could say - each in their own way: The Lord upholds me! May we say it and mean it - as well - today! “The Lord upholds me!”
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