Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious (Memorial)
If I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over. (Luke 19:8)
Try to imagine this scenario for a moment: You are Zacchaeus the tax collector, and you hear that Jesus is in town. You run out of your house and climb all the way up a tree to see him. When you see him and hear him speak to you, you are so moved that you promise to give half your possessions to the poor and to restore fourfold anyone you’ve defrauded.
Now, what would you think if Jesus were to say to you, “That’s all right, Zacchaeus. You don’t have to go so far. Just give back what you owe, and make sure you come to the synagogue every Sabbath. I don’t want you to overdo it”?
We all sense that Jesus would never react that way. It’s not that he demanded extravagant restitution as punishment for Zacchaeus’ acts of dishonesty. And it’s not that he needed Zacchaeus to balance the scales in an extreme way. No, Jesus was delighted with Zacchaeus because he saw how sincere this man was. Zacchaeus was called a true “descendant of Abraham” because he was acting freely, responding to the love that Jesus had for him (Luke 19:9). Jesus saw that Zacchaeus was acting out of love, not fear—that his restitution was an act of gratitude, not obligation.
That’s the way the mercy of God works. It is so extravagant and generous that it changes us. It convinces us to love and to give just as freely as Jesus has given to us. As St. Paul once said, our experience of this love “impels us” in a way that everyday logic can never do (2 Corinthians 5:14).
Spend some time in prayer today rejoicing in the extravagant, extreme, and unbounded love that Jesus has for you. Put yourself in Zacchaeus’ shoes, and let your encounter with the Lord move you to praise and worship him. “He loves me! He forgives me! He welcomes me with open arms!” Let these truths ring in your heart today. Let his love expand your heart so that you can love just as freely and generously.
“Lord, show me your love and your mercy. Come, Jesus, and teach me to be just as extravagant as you are!” Amen!
2 Maccabees 6: Martyrs for the faith18 A certain Eleazar, one of the leading scribes, elderly in age and with a most dignified outward appearance, was being compelled to open his mouth and eat pork. 19 But preferring death with honor to life with religious defilement, he proceeded voluntarily to the torture instrument, 20 spitting out the meat. In this he showed how everyone ought to stand fast and reject what isn’t lawful to taste despite the intense desire to live.
21 But those in charge of the unlawful sacrifice, because they had known the man for a long time, took him aside in private and urged him to bring meat that was lawful, prepared beforehand by himself, and then pretend to eat the meat from the sacrifice that the king commanded. 22 By doing this he might escape death and attain friendly treatment because of his old friendship with them. 23 But adopting a dignified perspective worthy of his seniority, his distinguished old age and the gray hair he had acquired, and worthy of his excellent conduct from childhood, and, moreover, worthy of the holy and God-created laws, he declared to them to send him to the grave[2 Maccabees 6:23 Gk Hades] immediately: 24 “It’s not worthy of our old age to act out such a role. Otherwise, many of the young would assume wrongly that Eleazar the 90-year-old had changed to a foreign way of life. 25 If I acted out this charade for the sake of living a moment longer, I would mislead them, and I would be defiled and dishonored in my old age. 26 Even if I escaped the punishment of human beings for the moment, I would certainly not escape the hands of the almighty—whether alive or dead. 27 So I give up my life courageously now to show myself worthy of my old age, 28 and to leave a fine example for the young people of how to die a good death with eagerness and dignity for the revered and sacred laws.” After he spoke he immediately approached the torture instrument. 29 [2 Maccabees 6:29 Correction; Gk uncertain] Those who had shown goodwill toward him earlier now felt hostility toward him,[2 Maccabees 6:29 Correction; Gk uncertain] because the words he had spoken seemed insane to them. 30 When his life was about to end from the beating, he groaned, “It is clear to the Lord with his sacred knowledge that, although I could have been saved from death, I endure in my body harsh pain from this beating, yet in my soul I cheerfully suffer these things because I respect him.” 31 In this manner he died, and his own death left behind a most noble and memorable example of virtue not only for the youth but also for the majority of his nation.
Psalms 3:2 (1) Adonai, how many enemies I have!
How countless are those attacking me;
3 (2) how countless those who say of me,
“There is no salvation for him in God.” (Selah)
4 (3) But you, Adonai, are a shield for me;
you are my glory, you lift my head high.
5 (4) With my voice I call out to Adonai,
and he answers me from his holy hill. (Selah)
6 (5) I lie down and sleep, then wake up again,
because Adonai sustains me.
7 (6) I am not afraid of the tens of thousands
set against me on every side.
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