On the first day of school, a third grade teacher drew two circles on the board. These two circles represented boys and girls. Then the teacher made the two circles overlap so that there was one piece that was part of the two circles. The teacher explained that this piece was what was the same about boys and girls.

"We both smile. Boys and girls laugh. We both go to school," were some of the answers that came from the class.

The teacher wrote all these things in the same piece of the two circles.

Then the teacher drew three circles on the board. These three circles are all the children of the world that belong to all the races. She drew the circles together so there was one piece for all three circles.

"What is the same about all children of the world regardless of their color and race?’ the teacher asked.

The children began to mention so many things that filled up the space.

One child said, "We have to make that piece bigger, because there are so many things to say".

The Gospel tells us about a small village where a man lived who was Zachaeus. He was a tax collector and a small man. No one liked him. Jesus came to the village and wanted to go to his house.

Jesus wanted to show that despite his being a tax collector and a very small man, he was a good man.

Jesus redraws the line of our circle. He brings us into one circle. What we all have that is the same is that we are all loved by God.

When I take the bread that is the body of Christ and the wine that is the blood of Christ, I lift them up and I say. "Through him, with him, and in him in the unity of the Holy Spirit all glory and honor is yours almighty Father for ever and ever; Jesus is taking all of us and all the people of the world and bringing them to the Father.