Zacchaeus, Grace, and the Lie That It’s Too Late | A Gospel Reflection Before Lent

About this sermon

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever! What if the greatest obstacle between us and God is not our sin—but our excuses? What if it’s not what we’ve done wrong, but the voice inside telling us it’s too late? In this powerful Gospel reflection on Zacchaeus, we are reminded that salvation begins with encounter, not perfection. Before Lent even begins, the Church places this Gospel before us to reveal how Jesus looks at us—not with condemnation, but with love. Zacchaeus was rejected, judged, and labeled a sinner. Yet he only wanted to see Jesus. That imperfect desire became the doorway to salvation. Jesus stops. He looks up. He calls him by name. And everything changes. This homily explores: Why grace comes before repentance How Jesus enters our lives as they are Why true repentance is about rediscovering dignity, not self-hatred How the word “Today” changes everything If you feel distant from God, unworthy, or stuck — this message is for you. 📌 “Today salvation has come to this house.” That word today is for you and for me. 🙏 May Christ, who entered the house of Zacchaeus, enter our hearts, homes, and lives, leading us toward repentance, healing, and joy. 00:00 Glory to Jesus Christ 00:23 What If It’s Not Your Sin, But Your Excuses? 01:02 Why the Church Gives Us Zacchaeus Before Lent 01:36 Who Zacchaeus Really Was 02:28 Just Wanting to See Jesus 03:12 Seeing Christ From a Safe Distance 03:40 The Shock: Jesus Stops 04:18 “Today I Must Stay at Your House” 04:44 Salvation Begins With Encounter 05:14 Grace Gives Birth to Repentance 05:26 Repentance Is Not Self-Hatred 05:59 Are You Willing to Be Seen by Christ? 06:29 “Today Salvation Has Come” 06:54 Desiring Christ Imperfectly 07:28 Closing Prayer and Invitation For more please visit https://www.youtube.com/@steliasbyzantinecatholicch5629 & say 3 Hail Marys for the priest 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 Support Catholic Businesses here - https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ Sensus Fidelium Press - https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ Sensus Fidelium Apps - https://sensusfidelium.tv/ Support Sensus Fidelium - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 🙏🏻PLEASE HELP OUR CHANNEL GROW 🙏🏻 ▶️ 1. Become a Channel Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SensusFidelium ▶️ 2. Visit the website https://www.sensusfidelium.us for Gueranger, Saint of the Day, Apologetics, Meditation by the Saints, Scripture Study and more. ▶️ 3. Subscribe to Other Video Platforms 🔴 SpiritusTV - https://spiritustv.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 BitChute --- https://www.bitchute.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium/ 🔴 Rumble --- https://rumble.com/c/c-298311 🔴 My Catholic Tube - https://mycatholictube.com/videos/sensus-fidelium-channel/ 🔴 LBRY.tv --- https://lbry.tv/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 ODYSEE - https://odysee.com/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 UGETube - https://videos.utahgunexchange.com/@Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 BrandNewTube - https://brandnewtube.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 GabTV - https://tv.gab.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 GloriaTV - https://gloria.tv/Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 Brighteon - https://www.brighteon.com/channels/sensusfidelium ▶️ 4. Paypal, Bitcoin, Anedot, Stripe, Square & PO Box donations - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ ▶️ 5. YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 Please "Like" our videos so that Youtube shares it to others by clicking the "Like" thumbs-up under the video = 👍🏻 ▶️ 6. Please share this video 📲, and help others find Christ inside the Catholic Church! Please share this video on Facebook and Twitter using the share button. ▶️ 7. Follow on Social Media: 🔴 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SensusFidelium/ 🔴 Twitter: https://https://twitter.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 🔴 Parler: https://parler.com/profile/Sensusfidelium/posts 🔴 SP3RN: https://www.sp3rn.com/community/pages/14-sensus-fidelium 🔴 GAB: https://gab.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 Bastyon: https://bastyon.com/sensusfidelium 🔴 GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/sensus_fidelium 🔴 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sensusfidelium/ 🔴 Telegram: https//t.me/RealSensusFidelium ▶️ 8. Follow on iTunes: 🔴 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sensus-fidelium-catholic-podcast/id1477010758 #Zacchaeus #OrthodoxChristianity #GospelReflection #BeforeLent #Repentance #Grace #JesusChrist #OrthodoxHomily #Salvation #ChristianFaith #Luke19 #NotTooLate #SpiritualHealing

Topics

• Grace