We need examples like Eleazar in our world today. We need people who are unwilling to bow down to the pressure of society to conform.
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.
He not only avoids the sin itself, but also the scandal it will cause if other people think he commits the sin.
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.
How do we come to a place where we can endure hardship and suffering with joy because of our devotion to God? We need Jesus to be welcome in our souls. He wants to come and dwell with us. If we let him, he will give us the grace of conversion.
Zacchaeus, come down quickly,
for today I must stay at your house."
And he came down quickly and received him with joy.
Isn't it good to know that Jesus wants to come to dwell with us? He doesn't miss us when we're passing buy even if we ourselves feel lost in the crowd. He isn't looking for just anyone. He is looking for us in particular. When we welcome him we can't help but be changed.
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.
It is Jesus within us who changes us. Only God can give this grace of conversion. Only he gives the grace to hold it firm to the end like Eleazar does.
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.
If we're feeling pressure to conform to the world's ways let us welcome Jesus with joy. If we're feeling lost, let us invite him to dwell with us. He wants to be the strength on which we can depend.
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.
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