Despite our unworthiness

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

THAT gospel story about Zaccheus (cfr. Lk 19,1-10) reminds us precisely of this point. No matter how unworthy we are of God’s favor, we should never lose hope nor the conviction that God is always there for us, ever ready to grant us mercy and to help us in every way.

As the gospel narrates, Zaccheus was a chief among the publicans and a rich man that in the very judgmental ways of the people then automatically meant that he was a big sinner. Yet, despite that condition, Zaccheus had in his heart of hearts a deep longing to see and know Christ.

When he heard that Christ was passing by, he immediately climbed up a tree to have a good sight of Christ since there was a large crowd and he was short of stature. And when Christ saw him up the tree, Christ told him to climb down and invited himself to Zaccheus’ own home. That was when the people also exploded in their judgmental ways by murmuring that Christ went to be a guest of a sinner.

We should not make a big fuss about our own unworthiness because of all the sins we all have committed. Never lose sleep over it. It’s a given and it is what precisely would attract Christ to us. We should just be transparent about ourselves and welcome Christ into our life.

Christ is the good shepherd who would always look for the lost sheep, never stopping until he would find that sheep. We should always be welcoming to Christ. This should be the attitude to have in our relation with Christ. He always takes the initiative to come to us, to knock at our heart’s door. We should be welcoming to him, and more than that, we should be appreciative of his love and concern for us and learn to correspond by knowing, thanking and loving him better each day.

Toward this end, we may just need a few moments to touch base with this reality and to make it our guiding spirit all throughout the day. We have to feel this need for him, for without him, we can only do nothing good, or worse, the only possibility left for us is to sin.

Christ spelled out this innate need for him when he said: “I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in me, and I in him will bear much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire and burned…” (Jn 15,5-6)

Thus, we have to learn the art of praying, or spending a few moments of meditation, which is not only a matter of a technique but more, that of learning how to be with Christ. A few minutes of meditation is like the refueling and the recharging that we need to make us going properly throughout the day.

Remember that God first created us. And upon our creation, he took the initiative to establish a personal relationship with us. He talked to our first parents, gave them some instructions. And even if our first parents, and then us, messed up the original plan of God for us, he did not sever that relationship with us.

Let us foster the desire for Christ to come into our hearts. We have to remember that as St. Augustine said, “The entire life of a good Christian is in fact an exercise of holy desire.” That desire not only has to be maintained. It also has to increase as time passes.

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com