The stories of Eleazar and Zaccheus in today's readings offer considerations for contemporary Christians, addressing head on, in a way, challenges of modern society. Today, who would think of OT Eleazar as a model of staunch loyalty and fidelity to his Jewish faith? Refusing to eat meat (pork) at the command of authority, he knew he faced a tortuous death. Even the encouragement of close friends to "fudge ... just this one time" to save his life was rejected. In the winter of his life, he believed his actions should not scandalize the younger men in the Jewish community. He would not sell his soul!
Just stop for a moment now. Consider all the time these words have been spoken in your presence: "oh, just this one time won't make a difference" when your faith is challenged by immoral or unethical actions.
Like Zaccheus, there are times when we find ourselves up a tree because of our own thinking or wanting. Zaccheus wanted to hear what it was that Jesus was preaching. Up in the tree, he was rubber-necking. If he did not like what he heard, he could easily climb down and hit the road. Were he really willing to open his heart ... before Jesus called him down and invited himself to Zaccheus' home for dinner ... he could most likely have made his was to be in the front line. Shorter folks always seem to have a great skill at getting up close ... perhaps one advantage of being on the shorter side.
Do I truly want to follow Jesus and the teachings of our Church? Am I afraid of being up close?
