자캐오는 세관장이며 부자였습니다. 그런데 키가 작았습니다. 지나가시는 예수님을 볼 수가 없자 나무 위로 올라갔습니다. 그의 모습을 주님께서 보셨습니다. 눈이 마주쳤을까요? 아무튼 예수님께서는 그의 집을 방문하십니다. 감동한 자캐오는 다른 사람을 등치지 않겠다고 약속합니다.
그는 키가 작았습니다. 그의 ‘핸디캡’을 뜻합니다. 어쩌면 세리라는 직업 때문에 사람들을 피하고 있었는지도 모릅니다. 그러기에 나무 위로 올라갔을 것입니다. 그런 그를 예수님께서는 사랑으로 부르십니다. “자캐오야, 얼른 내려오너라. 오늘은 내가 네 집에 머물러야 하겠다.” 자신은 사람들을 피했는데, 주님께서는 부르신 것입니다. 그의 ‘열등 의식’을 감싸 주시기 위해서였습니다. 우리 역시 ‘부족함’을 안고 살아갑니다. 자캐오는 오늘을 살고 있는 우리의 모습입니다.
우리는 예수님을 사랑합니다. 사랑은 좋아하는 이에게 빠져 허우적거리는 모습이 아닙니다. 좋아하는 이를 닮아 가는 행동입니다. 서서히 그에게 ‘물들어 가는’ 행위입니다. 그러므로 예수님의 사랑을 실천해야 합니다. 가장 가까운 가족들에게 먼저 실행해야 합니다. 가족 중에도 분명 ‘자캐오’는 있기 때문입니다.
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율법 학자 엘아자르는 진실한 신앙인이었습니다. 박해 가운데에서도 용감하게 믿음을 고백한 사람이었습니다. 관리들은 그를 변절시키려고 강제로 돼지고기를 먹게 합니다. 율법에 금지된 일을 시킨 것입니다. 그는 거절합니다. 매를 맞으면서도 신앙을 증언합니다. 마침내 그는 이스라엘의 순교자가 됩니다(제1독서). 자캐오는 세리였습니다. 당시 세리는 이방인 취급을 받았습니다. 사람들은 그들을 멀리했고 상종하지도 않았습니다. 그런데 예수님께서는 그의 집을 방문하십니다. 세상의 편견을 깨신 것입니다. 감동한 자캐오는 새사람이 될 것을 약속합니다(복음).
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엘리사벳 성녀는 1207년 헝가리의 공주로 태어나, 14세 때 이웃 나라 귀족과 혼인했습니다. 남편이 십자군 전쟁에서 전사하자, ‘프란치스코 제3회’에 가입하여 기도 생활과 자선 활동에 전념하였습니다. 1231년 24세의 젊은 나이로 선종했고, 4년 뒤 시성되었습니다. 엘리사벳 성녀는 자선 사업과 ‘작은 형제회 재속회’의 수호성인으로 공경받고 있습니다.
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November 17, 2009
2 Mc 6:18-31
Eleazar, one of the foremost scribes, a man of advanced age and noble appearance, was being forced to open his mouth to eat pork. But preferring a glorious death to a life of defilement, he spat out the meat, and went forward of his own accord to the instrument of torture, as people ought to do who have the courage to reject the food which it is unlawful to taste even for love of life. Those in charge of that unlawful ritual meal took the man aside privately, because of their long acquaintance with him, and urged him to bring meat of his own providing, such as he could legitimately eat, and to pretend to be eating some of the meat of the sacrifice prescribed by the king; in this way he would escape the death penalty, and be treated kindly because of their old friendship with him. But Eleazar made up his mind in a noble manner, worthy of his years, the dignity of his advanced age, the merited distinction of his gray hair, and of the admirable life he had lived from childhood; and so he declared that above all he would be loyal to the holy laws given by God.
He told them to send him at once to the abode of the dead, explaining: “At our age it would be unbecoming to make such a pretense; many young people would think the ninety-year-old Eleazar had gone over to an alien religion. Should I thus pretend for the sake of a brief moment of life, they would be led astray by me, while I would bring shame and dishonor on my old age. Even if, for the time being, I avoid the punishment of men, I shall never, whether alive or dead, escape the hands of the Almighty. Therefore, by manfully giving up my life now, I will prove myself worthy of my old age, and I will leave to the young a noble example of how to die willingly and generously for the revered and holy laws.”
Eleazar spoke thus, and went immediately to the instrument of torture. Those who shortly before had been kindly disposed, now became hostile toward him because what he had said seemed to them utter madness. When he was about to die under the blows, he groaned and said: “The Lord in his holy knowledge knows full well that, although I could have escaped death, I am not only enduring terrible pain in my body from this scourging, but also suffering it with joy in my soul because of my devotion to him.” This is how he died, leaving in his death a model of courage and an unforgettable example of virtue not only for the young but for the whole nation.
Ps 3:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
R. (6b) The Lord upholds me. O LORD, how many are my adversaries! Many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, “There is no salvation for him in God.” R. The Lord upholds me. But you, O LORD, are my shield; my glory, you lift up my head! When I call out to the LORD, he answers me from his holy mountain. R. The Lord upholds me. When I lie down in sleep, I wake again, for the LORD sustains me. I fear not the myriads of people arrayed against me on every side. R. The Lord upholds me.
Lk 19:1-10
At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” 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.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”
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