Cleansing, Repairs and Reformatting (Tuesday, Week 33, Year 2)

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In Rev. 2:1-5, the Church in Ephesus was told some bitter truth about it and then urged to repent. In the first reading (cf. Rev. 3:1-6. 14-22) for today’s liturgy, the churches in Sardis and Laodicea were also told some bitter truth about them and urged to repent. To the Church in Sardis, the Lord says, “I know your works; you have the name of being alive, and you are dead. Awake!” To the Church in Laodicea, he says, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth; so be zealous and repent”. In each statement above, there is a gentle reminder that God knows everything that we do (either in the dark or in the open space) and there is a call to repentance. Today’s passage concludes that “God stands at the door and knocks; if any one hears his voice and opens the door, he will come in and dine with him” (Rev. 3:20).

There is a very nice painting of Jesus knocking at the door, waiting to be allowed into the house. In that painting, it is shown that the door in question has no outside handle: the handle is inside, meaning that the Lord is always willing to enter in if the door can be opened for him from inside. The gospel passage (cf. Luke 19:1-10) presents someone who opened the door of his heart for Jesus to enter and dine with him. Zachaeus desired an encounter with the Lord and he (Zacchaeus) was determined to make it happen, not minding his status and size: he ignored the crowd and climbed the tree. 

The decision to let Jesus into our hearts for reformatting and self-repositioning is one we often detest because of the fear of losing certain possessions. Accepting to open the door is like accepting to tap the reset option in our phones that wipes out all that we have saved in it. Zacchaeus did not mind this reformatting and so went ahead to dedicate his life and property to God and the poor, while promising to discipline himself. May the Lord grant us the humility, ability and sincerity needed for us to let Him in and to let Him take possession of our lives so that we may share in the blessings and peace His presence brings, Amen!       




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