16 November 2021
Tuesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
What does a tree have in common with a disciple? More than we might expect.
I once was talking to a fellow Jesuit who told me about a prayerful experience he had once while walking through the woods. Looking up he thought: “Trees are strong. They offer shelter and protection. They weather winds and storms and through it all, become stronger and more rooted in their life-giving source. I want to be like those trees,” he said.
In today’s gospel which continues the theme of seeing Christ, we see how trees can also facilitate an encounter with Jesus, as was the case for Zacchaeus.
From its very beginning, the Church has relied on disciples to hand down the faith, and like the tree in today’s gospel, to help others to see Christ.
We stand on the shoulders, or if you will, the branches of giants, holy men and women who, often through adversity have stood strong and rooted in a faith that is life-giving, a faith that offers us a way to see Christ.
In this month of November, as we gratefully remember those who have served as trees in our faith-life, perhaps we can pray that we might too be like trees for those who are still awaiting an encounter.