483 part iii: meditations for the commons After Holy Communion 1. “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor” (Lk 19:8). Do you see Zacchaeus’ generosity; he who shares all his goods with the poor after the Savior’s visit to his house? You should certainly do the same; you should share with the poor, namely, with sinners, all the charisms that you have obtained at the present sacred banquet. As the poor returning from the banquets of great people usually share the remaining loaves of bread with their companions, thus you should not enjoy alone the light of God that was begged for and obtained in the Most Holy Eucharist; but you should bring the light to others also, especially to those who do not have such a great opportunity as you to receive Holy Communion so often. 2. “I restore it fourfold” (Lk 19:8). “Behold, the camel” (says that well-known Venerable Doctor, admiring the sudden change in Zacchaeus) “has laid down his burden, and passed through the eye of the needle — [f.157r] that is, he gave up the love of riches, and received the blessing of the Lord’s adoption.”236 For as soon as he welcomes Christ the Lord with hospitality, immediately he feels that greed is banned from his heart. Wherefore he repays the ones he deceived with an overgenerous compensation. You too, restore to God what you have received; to your neighbor, what you owed; to God, the debt of gratitude; to your neighbor, the edifying example, lest it be judged otherwise that Christ the Lord’s stay in you was in vain. 3. “I restore it” (Lk 19:8). He gives back the profits from usury; he compensates abundantly and excessively for past swindles. 236 Cornelius à Lapide, The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide: S. Luke’s Gospel, Trans. Thomas W. Mossman, 4th ed., vol. 4, John Grant, Edinburgh 1908, p. 455 (Ch. XIX, 8). To be noted is the expanded version of this pericope in: Venerabilis Bedæ, In Lucæ Evangelium Expositio — Liber V (Luke XIX, 1-4), in: PL, vol. 92, Ateliers catholiques du Petit-Montrouge, Paris 1862, p. 559 (cap. XIX).
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mw==