Homily for 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

 Waiting for your change of heart
It just takes a beat
To turn it around
Yes I'm waiting for your change of heart 

A change of heart!  You know I found dozens of songs referencing a change of heart including classics by Tom Petty and Olivia Newton John.  I even found a Total Eclipse of the Heart.  In these lyrics, the incomparable Cindy Lauper reminds us it just takes a beat to have a change of heart.

In our lives we experience a change of heart all the time.  It often takes a change of heart to follow a good path, to find, develop and maintain meaningful relationships and yes, a change of heart to seek Christ and live a changed life; a new life.

Yes, as people of faith we are called to a change of heart!

We learn about a change of heart in today’s Gospel as Jesus continues his journey towards Jerusalem. Today there is a little detour on a side road; a road that takes Jesus to Jericho and an encounter with a tax collector named Zacchaeus.  Now Jericho was a place of high taxes and tax collectors were all thought to be on the take.  A man like Zacchaeus would enjoy no respect from the local town folk and many just called him a sinner.  As Jesus begins to pass through Jericho the crowds swell to see him and Zacchaeus wants to see him too.  Being short and unable to see, Zacchaeus climbs a sycamore tree.  Much to his surprise, and the surprise of the crowd, Jesus calls him by name, tells him to climb down the tree, I must stay at your house.  Imagine the shock; imagine the disbelief that Jesus wants to spend time with Zacchaeus and in his home.  Why would Jesus pick the home of such a sinner?  Why would Jesus want fellowship with one like Zacchaeus?  Because Jesus came to save sinners!  Now whether Zacchaeus realized he was a sinner or not is not important here; what is important is one encounter with Jesus, one moment of choosing to seek Jesus, moved Zacchaeus to a total change of heart.  So much so that the tax collector confessed his sinfulness and offered to repay fourfold any he may have extorted.  A total change of heart!

We are called to a total change of heart, over and over again.  Whether we have sought and found or more likely, still seeking, Jesus waits for us while coming to us all the time.  As Jesus comes to us, in reconciliation, the Eucharist, the Word, or in the presence of others, he still calls to each of: change your hearts!

At Rayburn Correctional, I have witnessed many who experience a change of heart.  Now many, almost always those who have never stepped foot in a prison, dismiss this reality that prisoners can have a change of heart.  Naïve; foolish because an inmate named Woody is one such example of a total change of heart.  He was a criminal; he committed a crime that landed him in jail for what would be the rest of his life.  Like Zacchaeus, he was short, but more importantly, short-sided.  Like Zacchaeus, he too had climbed his sycamore tree; close enough to see Jesus yet still far away from Jesus.  And like Zacchaeus, Woody heard those words: come down, I must stay at your house.  The house Jesus called Woody to is that of a transformed heart; a heart that desires Jesus.  Woody was the example to all the men of the Catholic community at Rayburn.  He was a weekly attendee at Mass, attended every possible prayer service he could, went to Confession monthly; was an example daily to men in the dorm, on the walk, in the yard.  He tutored the worst of the worst; in one case taking a prisoner with a third grade reading level and helping him all the way to an associate’s degree from an accredited college; while in prison.  Woody offered to Jesus and delivered fourfold, like Zacchaeus, because he experienced a total change of heart.  Just 8 days after attending the prison retreat for inmates; the same retreat I asked you to help me with by your prayers, the cookies you baked, the donations you gave, Woody’s life on earth came to an end, felled by an unexpected stroke due to an aneurysm.  I rejoice in his life, and am confident of eternal life with Christ, because Woody had a total change of heart.  A heart for Christ that was made manifest in service to his brothers in prison.

We are challenged this week to confront out shortness of faith, to climb down our sycamore trees and seek Jesus who seeks us!  What should we consider in the week ahead?  Can we follow the example of an inmate, a prisoner?  Woody’s formula can be ours: weekly Mass, monthly confession at a minimum, prayer, whether in community or privately, and be an example to others by giving of self; giving the gift of presence!

It just takes a beat to turn it around…yes, Jesus is waiting for our change of heart!  A change of heart that leads to salvation coming to this house!