When they saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” (Lk 19:1-10)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111825.cfm
The story of the Lord’s visit to the house of Zacchaeus has always been used in the dedication of churches. The Basilica of Saint Peter, or the Vatican Basilica (consecrated 326), and the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls (consecrated 324) were originally built by Constantine, and as the two apostles are claimed as founders of the church of Rome, the anniversary of the dedications of their basilicas is kept on the same day. Today is also my 7th anniversary of my arrival in Colombia. https://youtu.be/7f9bzXG2BF0?si=DjDs_5cFSkrsYe1M
These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles, November 18
