The Surprise of a Second Chance

Reflection Date: November 17, 2026 | Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious
Daily Readings: Revelation 3:1-6, 14-22; Luke 19:1-10

Children of God:
In South Korea, one of the country's most iconic K-pop singers, Rain, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, surprised many of his fans when he embraced the Catholic faith in 2014. 

Before his baptism, Rain was reportedly agnostic, meaning he did not identify himself with a particular religious belief. His relationship with his Catholic girlfriend brought him closer to the Catholic community. 

On July 10, 2014, Rain received Catholic baptism and was given the baptismal name Michael.

In the gospel story of Luke, today, we are presented with the person of Zacchaeus, a wealthy chief tax collector who climbed a sycamore tree just to catch a glimpse of Jesus passing through Jericho. 

People looked down on Zacchaeus because of his profession and considered him a sinner, but Jesus saw something beyond his reputation. Jesus stopped, looked up, called him by name, and invited himself into his house. 

That encounter changed Zacchaeus so deeply that he promised to give half of his possessions to the poor and repay four times anyone he cheated.

What are our inspirations for today?

First, never allow your past mistakes to define the person you can become.

Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector, a profession that made him unpopular among his fellow Jews because tax collectors worked for the Roman authorities and were often associated with dishonesty and exploitation. He was wealthy, but his wealth did not necessarily earn him the respect of his community. 

We all have our own stories of mistakes and failures. Sometimes, we become so ashamed of our past that we begin to believe we are no longer worthy of love, respect, or acceptance. But our mistakes do not have to determine the direction of our future.

Jesus teaches us that every person deserves an opportunity to change. God's mercy gives us the courage to acknowledge our failures and the opportunity to live differently.

Never allow your past mistakes to define the person you can become.

Second, a genuine encounter with Jesus must lead us to change the way we live.

When Jesus entered the house of Zacchaeus, something remarkable happened. Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and made a concrete promise to give half of his possessions to the poor, and to repay four times over those who he had extorted.

Sometimes, we think that being religious means attending Mass, saying prayers, lighting candles, or participating in church activities. These practices are important, but our faith must also influence the way we treat people. 

If we pray every day but continue to cheat others, what difference does our prayer make? If we attend Mass regularly but refuse to forgive someone, what are we allowing God's word to do in our lives? If we claim to follow Jesus but remain indifferent to the poor, the hungry, and the struggling, perhaps we need to examine the kind of faith we practice.

The conversion of Zacchaeus challenges us to make our faith visible through our decisions. A genuine encounter with Jesus gives us the courage to correct our mistakes and make better choices.

A genuine encounter with Jesus must lead us to change the way we live.

As we reflect, we ask ourselves: What mistakes or painful experiences from my past continue to prevent me from believing that I can change? 

Am I willing to make concrete changes in my life as a response to my encounter with Jesus? Who are the people I need to forgive, apologize to, or make amends with so that I can live my faith more sincerely?

Children of God:
Nobody is too lost to be found, too broken to be healed, or too sinful to receive God's mercy. Jesus continues to look beyond our reputations, our failures, and the judgments of other people. 

What he desires is a heart that is willing to welcome him and a life that is ready to change. May we always remember that every encounter with Jesus offers us the opportunity to begin again.