{"id":155468,"date":"2017-01-24T16:31:10","date_gmt":"2017-01-24T14:31:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=155468\/"},"modified":"2017-01-24T16:33:04","modified_gmt":"2017-01-24T14:33:04","slug":"patriarch-daniel-christ-the-saviour-came-into-the-world-to-seek-and-to-save-the-lost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arhiva.basilica.ro\/en\/patriarch-daniel-christ-the-saviour-came-into-the-world-to-seek-and-to-save-the-lost\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriarch Daniel: Christ the Saviour came into the world to seek and to save the lost"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our Saviour Jesus Christ wants us to become righteous by observing His kindness, His patience, His mercifulness and His waiting for us<\/em>, the Patriarch of Romania said Sunday at \u021aig\u0103ne\u0219ti Monastery.<\/p>\n

Dozens were present at the Divine Liturgy celebrated Sunday at \u021aig\u0103ne\u0219ti Monastery in Ilfov County.<\/p>\n

His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania, attended the Divine Liturgy and delivered a homily reflecting on the day\u2019s Gospel reading from Luke 19:1-10. His Beatitude emphasized Jan. 22 the importance of charity in the life of Christians in order to acquire salvation.<\/p>\n

The Patriarch explained that even though wealthy Zacchaeus understood that his many riches unjustly gathered could not bring peace, quiet, happiness or spiritual joy. Zacchaeus the publican realized that his soul should be nourished with the true wealth represented by spiritual joy. The publican was unsatisfied with himself and wished for a change in his life.<\/p>\n

Patriarch Daniel went on to say that people can change especially when they observe in their life the overwhelming kindness of God. Jesus transformed the covetous Zacchaeus into a merciful person, the Patriarch said, not by rebuking him, but by offering him the attention he was not worthy of. Our Saviour Jesus Christ wants us to become righteous by observing His kindness, His patience, His mercifulness and His waiting for us.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Patriarch continued his speech saying that people have the choice to follow the Gospel of Christ\u2019s merciful love. Jesus Christ the Saviour came into the world to seek and to save the lost, he said, and drew attention that now is our time to repentance and change. Everything depends on our freedom, whether we answer to the calling of God or not.<\/em><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Gospel reading on the 32nd Sunday after Pentecost (Luke 19:1-10)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.<\/span> A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd.<\/span> So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-figtree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.<\/span><\/p>\n

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, \u201cZacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.<\/span><\/p>\n

All the people saw this and began to mutter, \u201cHe has gone to be the guest of a sinner.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, \u201cLook, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus said to him, \u201cToday salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/sup>For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n