The Feast of the Presentation of Our Lady | Tuesday 21 November 2023

Today is Tuesday the 21st of November, the feast of the Presentation of Our Lady.

Paul Zach and Sandra McCracken sing, ‘The Zacchaeus Song’.

Jesus our Lord came to seek and to save
He sought me out and He called me by name
Foolish and proud, like a sheep gone astray
He said, "Child, to your house I will come today"
Much I have gained but I'll give even more
Half of my wealth it was robbed from the poor
O this injustice! Lord, help me restore
For You called me by name and said, "Sin no more"
Salvation has come
Salvation has come to this house today
He said it's more blessed to give than receive
To open my hands to the ones I've deceived
To bring reparation of all I have thieved
Hallelujah, hallelujah, yes, now I can see
Salvation has come
Salvation has come to this house today
What I've taken from the poor: I will give it all away
And their cries won't be ignored: I will give it all away
Let Your justice be restored: I will give it all away
What I thought was mine is yours: I will give it all away
Jesus our Lord comes to seek and to save
The broken, the lost, and the sheep gone astray
O lay down your treasures, for they're just golden chains
He says, "Child, I will come to your house today"




Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.


Luke 19:1-10

He entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax-collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.’ So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, ‘He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.’ Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, ‘Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.’

In today’s prayer, imagine that you are walking with Jesus as he passes through Jericho. What is it like to be walking with him? Have a look around at the people in the crowd.

Watch Jesus now, as his face suddenly turns upwards towards the branches of the sycamore tree.


Imagine that you are peering up into the tree with Jesus. What do you see among the leaves? What does the face of Zacchaeus look like?

Jesus says to Zacchaeus, “Hurry and come down; for I must come to stay at your house today.” Watch Zacchaeus scramble down the tree trunk to meet Jesus.

As you hear the reading again, listen to the conversation between Jesus and Zacchaeus.

Jesus says, “Today salvation has come to this house.” Look again at the face of Zacchaeus. Can you imagine how these changes are reflected in his demeanour?

Take a few moments now, recalling how following Jesus has changed your life.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.