Posted on 10/26/2013 7:57:35 PM PDT by Salvation
October 27, 2013
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading 1 Sir 35:12-14, 16-18
The LORD is a God of justice,
who knows no favorites.
Though not unduly partial toward the weak,
yet he hears the cry of the oppressed.
The Lord is not deaf to the wail of the orphan,
nor to the widow when she pours out her complaint.
The one who serves God willingly is heard;
his petition reaches the heavens.
The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds;
it does not rest till it reaches its goal,
nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds,
judges justly and affirms the right,
and the Lord will not delay.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23
R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the Lord hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Reading 2 2 Tm 4:6-8, 16-18
Beloved:
I am already being poured out like a libation,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have competed well; I have finished the race;
I have kept the faith.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,
which the Lord, the just judge,
will award to me on that day, and not only to me,
but to all who have longed for his appearance.
At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf,
but everyone deserted me.
May it not be held against them!
But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength,
so that through me the proclamation might be completed
and all the Gentiles might hear it.
And I was rescued from the lion's mouth.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat
and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom.
To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.Gospel Lk 18:9-14
Jesus addressed this parable
to those who were convinced of their own righteousness
and despised everyone else.
"Two people went up to the temple area to pray;
one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,
'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity --
greedy, dishonest, adulterous -- or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’
But the tax collector stood off at a distance
and would not even raise his eyes to heaven
but beat his breast and prayed,
'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.'
I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;
for whoever exalts himself will be humbled,
and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
GOSPEL COMMENTARY LK 18:9-14
Prayer that pierces the clouds
Fr. Jack Peterson, YA
Jesus tells a parable of two kinds of Jews with whom all Jews of His day are familiar and most dislike. There is the Pharisee who knows the law, keeps the commandments and practices the faith, but some have a reputation for being hypocritical, judgmental and hung up on externals. Then there is the tax collector who is considered both a traitor to the Jewish people and a thief who extorts more than the people owe to the Romans as a means to personal wealth. Both enter the temple area to pray. Jesus says that one goes home justified and the other does not. Why?
St. Luke gives the simple answer to this question in the introduction to the parable: “Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else.” The sin of pride, which is at the root of all sin, often leads to an attitude of self-righteousness that is offensive to both man and God. It also leads one to look down upon and even despise our neighbor.
The Pharisee’s prayer is pretty ugly: “O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity —greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and I pay tithes on my whole income.” The Pharisee has convinced himself that he is earning his salvation by good works alone, not by God’s mercy and generosity. We can’t make ourselves right with God without His assistance. Plus, this Pharisee is looking down his nose at everyone around him.
Sadly, I think if we are honest with ourselves, most of us have at least been tempted to offer a similar prayer. “I am not like my classmates who have sex every weekend with a different person; I am not like my officemates who are so lazy and self-centered; I am not like my husband/wife who can be so selfish and never tries to understand what I am going through right now.”
In contrast, Jesus praises the tax collector who stands off at a distance (in part because he was not allowed in the temple proper), does not even feel comfortable raising his eyes to heaven, strikes his breast and prays, “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.” There are no proclamations about others in this prayer and no statements of how good he is. Rather, there is only a humble admittance of being a sinner and a simple request for God’s tender mercy. This prayer is very pleasing to God.
The inspired author of the Book of Sirach addresses this same truth from an Old Testament perspective: “The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds: It does not rest till it reaches its goal, nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds.”
The Mass is full of opportunities for us to imitate the tax collector and offer to God the prayer of the lowly. During the penitential rite, if we recite the Confiteor, we strike our breast three times admitting our most grievous fault. If we use the other common form of the penitential rite, we beg God three times to have mercy on us. The Mass follows with the Gloria (on Sundays and solemnities), which admits that Jesus takes away the sins of the world and implores God again to “have mercy on us.” As we approach holy Communion, we proclaim the Agnus Dei, which repeats our need for God’s tender mercies. We also repeat the beautiful words of the Roman centurion, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”
At the start of Pope Francis’ famous interview with the Jesuit journalist Father Antonio Spadaro, he was asked: “Who is Jorge Mario Bergolio?” After pausing for a moment, Pope Francis responded, “I am a sinner. This is the most accurate definition. … I am a sinner whom the Lord has looked upon.” How refreshing and humble.
It is clear what God wants from us, humble and contrite hearts. It is clear what helps spread our Christian faith around the world: humble and contrite hearts. “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.”
Fr. Peterson is assistant chaplain at Marymount University in Arlington and director of the Youth Apostles Institute in McLean.
Year C- 30th Sunday in Ordinary timeEvery one that exalts himself, shall be humbled: and he that humbles himself, shall be exalted. Luke 18:9-14 9 And to some who trusted in themselves as just, and despised others, he spoke also this parable: |
Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary
There’s an old saying on pride that goes: “Faults in others I can see, but praise the Lord, they’re none in me!” It’s a steel trap statement because one is snared in sin by the very act of claiming they have no sin. And it’s the biggest sin of all: Pride!
In today’s Gospel, the Lord illustrates this very point in speaking to us of two men who go to to the temple and pray. One man commits the greatest sin of all, pride, and leaves unjustified. The other, though a great sinner, receives the gift of justification through humility. Let’s look at what the Lord teaches us.
1. Prideful Premise - Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness. When it comes to parables, it is possible for us to go right to the parable and miss the introductory statement that often tells us what spurred Jesus to give the parable. Many simply see this parable as being about arrogance. But there is more to it than that.
Jesus is addressing this parable to those who are convinced of their own righteousness. They are under the illusion that they are capable of justifying and saving themselves. They think they can have their “own righteousness,” and that it will be enough to save them.
But the truth is, there is no saving righteousness apart from Christ’s righteousness. I do not care how many spiritual push-ups you do, how many good works you do, how many commandments you keep. It will never be enough for you to earn heaven. On your own you are not holy enough, to ever enter heaven or save yourself. Scripture says, One cannot redeem himself, pay to God a ransom. Too high the price to redeem a life; he would never have enough (Psalm 49:8-9)
Only Christ and HIS righteousness can ever close the gap, can ever get you to heaven. Even if we do have good works, they are not our gift to God, they are his gift to us. We cannot boast of them, they are his. Again Scripture says, For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast. For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should walk in them (Eph 2:8-10).
But the Pharisee in the Parable has a prideful premise that is operative. Jesus says he is convinced of his OWN righteousness. Notice how, in his brief prayer he says “I” four times:
It is also interesting that the Lord, when telling the of the prideful Pharisee, indicates that he “spoke this prayer to himself.” Some think it merely means he did not say the prayer out loud. But others suspect that more is at work here, a double meaning if you will. In effect, the Lord is saying that his prayer is so wholly self-centered, so devoid of any true appreciation of God, that it is actually spoken only to himself. He is congratulating himself more than really praying to God, and his “thank you” is purely perfunctory and serves more a premise for his own prideful self adulation. He is speaking to himself alright. He is so prideful that even God can’t even hear him.
Hence we see a prideful premise on the part of the Pharisee who sees his righteous as his own, as something he has achieved. He is badly mistaken.
2. Problematic Perspective - and despised everyone else. To “despise” means to look down on others with contempt, to perceive others as beneath us. Now the Lord says the Pharisee did this. Notice how the Pharisee is glad to report that he is “not like the rest of humanity.”
Not only is his remark foolish, it is also impertinent. For, it is a simple fact that you and I will not get to heaven merely by being a little better than someone else. No indeed, being better than a tax collector, prostitute, drug dealer, or dishonest business man is not the standard we must meet. The standard we must meet is Jesus. He is the standard. And Jesus said, Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matt 5:48). Now, somebody say, Lord have mercy! It is so dangerous, and a total waste of time, to compare our self with others because it wholly misses the point.
The point is that we are to compare our selves to Jesus and to be conformed to him by the work of his grace. And, truth be told, any honest comparison of our self to Jesus should make us fall to our knees and cry out for mercy, because the only way we stand a chance is with boatloads of grace and mercy.
It is so silly, laughable really, that we compare our selves to others. What a pointless pursuit! What a fool’s errand! What a waste of time! God is very holy and we need to leave behind the problematic perspective of looking down on others and trying to be just a little better than some poor (and fellow) sinner. It just won’t cut it.
There’s a lot of talk today about being “basically a nice person.” But being nice isn’t how we get to heaven. We get to heaven by being Jesus. The goal in life isn’t to be nice, the goal is to be made holy. We need to set aside all the tepid and merely humanistic notions of righteousness and come to understand how radical the call to holiness is and how unattainable it is by human effort. Looking to be average, or a little better than others, is a problematic perspective. It has to go and be replaced by the Jesus standard.
Let’s put it in terms of something we all can understand: money. Let’s say that we’re on our way to heaven and you have $50 and I have $500. Now I might laugh at you and feel all superior to you. I might ridicule you and say, “I have ten times as much as you!” But then we get to heaven and find out the cost to enter is 70 trillion dollars. Oops. Looks like we’re both going to need a LOT of mercy and grace to get in the door. In the end, we are both in the same boat and all my boasting was a waste of time and quite silly to boot. We have a task so enormous and unattainable that we simply have to let God grant it and accomplish it for us. And this leads to the final point.
3. Prescribed Practice - But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ Given everything we have reflected on, we can only bow our head and cry from the heart, “Lord have mercy!” Deep humility coupled with lively hope are the only answers.
And here too, being humble isn’t something we can do. We have to ask God for a humble and contrite heart. Without this gift we will never be saved. We are just to proud and egotistical in our flesh. So God needs to give us a new heart, a new mind. Notice that the tax collector in today’s parable did three things, three things we ought to do:
Beware of Pride. It is our worst enemy. Beg for the gift of humility, for only with it do we even stand a chance.
I have it on the best of authority that, as he left the Temple, the tax collector sang this song: “It’s Me O Lord, Standing in the Need of Prayer!” Here it is sung by a German choir which explains their unusual pronunciation of “prayer.” It’s OK though, I don’t pronounce “Geschwindigkeitsbegrenzung” (speed limit) very well either!
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading I: Sirach 35:12-14,16-18 II: 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18
Gospel
Luke 18:9-14
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others:
10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.'
13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Interesting Details
One Main Point
Righteousness comes from being faithful to the covenant relationship with God, through which God justifies us.
Reflections
| Sunday, October 27, 2013 Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time |
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Just A Minute (Listen) Some of EWTN's most popular hosts and guests in a collection of one minute inspirational messages. A different message each time you click. |
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The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.
Amen. |
Yes, thanks.
YES!
| Luke | |||
| English: Douay-Rheims | Latin: Vulgata Clementina | Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000) | |
| Luke 18 |
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| 9. | And to some who trusted in themselves as just, and despised others, he spoke also this parable: | Dixit autem et ad quosdam qui in se confidebant tamquam justi, et aspernabantur ceteros, parabolam istam : | ειπεν δε προς τινας τους πεποιθοτας εφ εαυτοις οτι εισιν δικαιοι και εξουθενουντας τους λοιπους την παραβολην ταυτην |
| 10. | Two men went up into the temple to pray: the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. | Duo homines ascenderunt in templum ut orarent : unus pharisæus et alter publicanus. | ανθρωποι δυο ανεβησαν εις το ιερον προσευξασθαι ο εις φαρισαιος και ο ετερος τελωνης |
| 11. | The Pharisee standing, prayed thus with himself: O God, I give thee thanks that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, as also is this publican. | Pharisæus stans, hæc apud se orabat : Deus, gratias ago tibi, quia non sum sicut ceteri hominum : raptores, injusti, adulteri, velut etiam hic publicanus : | ο φαρισαιος σταθεις προς εαυτον ταυτα προσηυχετο ο θεος ευχαριστω σοι οτι ουκ ειμι ωσπερ οι λοιποι των ανθρωπων αρπαγες αδικοι μοιχοι η και ως ουτος ο τελωνης |
| 12. | I fast twice in a week: I give tithes of all that I possess. | jejuno bis in sabbato, decimas do omnium quæ possideo. | νηστευω δις του σαββατου αποδεκατω παντα οσα κτωμαι |
| 13. | And the publican, standing afar off, would not so much as lift up his eyes towards heaven; but struck his breast, saying: O god, be merciful to me a sinner. | Et publicanus a longe stans, nolebat nec oculos ad cælum levare : sed percutiebat pectus suum, dicens : Deus propitius esto mihi peccatori. | και ο τελωνης μακροθεν εστως ουκ ηθελεν ουδε τους οφθαλμους εις τον ουρανον επαραι αλλ ετυπτεν εις το στηθος αυτου λεγων ο θεος ιλασθητι μοι τω αμαρτωλω |
| 14. | I say to you, this man went down into his house justified rather that the other: because every one that exalteth himself, shall be humbled: and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted. | Dico vobis, descendit hic justificatus in domum suam ab illo : quia omnis qui se exaltat, humiliabitur, et qui se humiliat, exaltabitur. | λεγω υμιν κατεβη ουτος δεδικαιωμενος εις τον οικον αυτου η γαρ εκεινος οτι πας ο υψων εαυτον ταπεινωθησεται ο δε ταπεινων εαυτον υψωθησεται |
I was searching for attribution of this illumination and instead found an excerpt from the homily of Blessed Gregory of Palamas on ths subject:
From St Gregory Palamas (c. 1296-1359), Archbishop of Thessaloniki, 'Homily Two, On the Lord's Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee':13. [Having discussed the Pharisee's prayer, St Gregory begins,] These are the words of the Pharisee. By contrast, the Publican 'standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast saying, God be merciful to me a sinner' (Luke 18:13). See the extent of his humility, faith, and self-reproach. See the utter abasement of his thoughts and feelings, and, at the same time, contrition of heart mingled with this publican's prayer. When he went up into the Temple to pray for the remission of his sins, he brought with him good advocates before God: unashamed faith, uncondemned self-reproach, contrition of heart that is not despised and humility that exalts. He linked attention to prayer most excellently. It says, 'The publican standing afar off'. Not 'stood', as in the case of the Pharisee, but 'standing', to show that he was standing for a long time continuously praying and asking for mercy. Without any other intention or thought he paid attention only to himself and God, turning over and repeating the supplication of a single thought,* the most effective of all prayers.14. 'And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven' (Luke 18:13). As he stood he bowed down, and his bearing was not only that of a lowly servant, but also of a condemned man. It also proclaims a soul delivered from sin. Although still far from God, without the boldness towards Him that comes from good works, it hopes to draw near to him because it has already renounced evil and is intent on good. 'Standing afar off the publican would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven', showing his self-condemnation and self-reproach by his manner and appearance. He saw himself as unworthy either of heaven or of the earthly Temple, so he stood on the threshold of the Temple, not daring even to turn his gaze towards heaven, still less towards the God of heaven. In his intense contrition he smote upon his breast to show he was worthy of punishment. He sighed in deepest mourning, bowing his head like a condemned man, calling himself a sinner and begging with faith for forgiveness, saying, 'God be merciful to me a sinner'. For he believed Him Who said, 'Turn ye unto me, and I will turn unto you' (Zech. 1:3), and the Prophet who bore witness, 'I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my heart' (cf. Ps. 32:5).
(The Homilies of Saint Gregory Palamas, Vol. 1: Homilies I-XXI, ed. Christopher Veniamin [South Canaan, PA: St Tikhon's Seminary, 2002], pp. 16-17)
Got both of you. Thanks.
Today is Priesthood Sunday, sponsored by the Serra Clubs throughout the world.
Send a note, a card or a spiritual bouquet to your priest.
Feast Day: October 27
Born: Tyre (modern Sur, Lebanon)
Died: 380 in Ethiopia
Patron of: Abyssinia, Ethiopia
Always a pleasure, Salvation!
Sunday, October 27
Liturgical Color: Green>
Today the Church honors St. Emilina,
religious. Because of her deep prayer
life and gift of prophecy people came to
her for counsel. She used her gift to
help others grow stronger in their faith.
St. Emilina died in 1178.
Daily Readings for:October 27, 2013
(Readings on USCCB website)
Collect: Almighty ever-living God, increase our faith, hope and charity, and make us love what you command, so that we may merit what you promise. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
RECIPES
o Beef Brisket with Fall Vegetables
ACTIVITIES
o Elementary Parent Pedagogy: Training by Doing, Children and the Whole Church
PRAYERS
LIBRARY
o Christ the King Is Lord of the World and History | Pope John Paul II
Ordinary Time: October 27th
Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Old Calendar: Feast of Christ the King
Jesus spoke the following parable to some people who prided themselves on being virtuous and despised everyone else; "Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood there and said this prayer to himself, 'I thank you, God, that I am not grasping, unjust, adulterous like the rest of mankind, and particularly that I am not like this tax collector here (Lk 18:9-11)."'
Click here for commentary on the readings in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.
Sunday Readings
The first reading is taken from the book of Ecclesiasticus 35:15-17, 20-22. This wise man has some very solid instructions today, on the justice of God, who deals equally with all men and has no favorites. He answers the prayers of all, but the oppressed, the orphan, the widow, the ones who can least help themselves, are always his concern. The best prayer is that of loyal, willing service. The prayer of the humble man will be answered.
The second reading is from the second letter of Paul to Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18. In his three pastoral letters to Timothy and Titus, St. Paul often quotes his own life and sufferings to encourage his disciples and successors to persevere in their apostolic labors. He now feels that his earthly life is nearing its end but he has full confidence in God, his just judge, who will give him his eternal reward.
The Gospel is from St. Luke 18:9-14. During His hidden life in Nazareth, and especially during His public life when He traveled through the towns and villages of Palestine, our Lord met sinners of all kinds. There is not a single record of a harsh word spoken by Him to any of them. In fact, He was accused of mixing too freely with them. His answer was that "it was those who were ill who needed a doctor, not those who were in good health." The sinners He met knew that they were ill. They regretted their sins. He forgave them.
There was one group, however, and only one, against whom He uttered condemnation and for whom He foretold an unhappy ending. These were the Pharisees. In Mt. 23, the whole chapter is devoted to Christ's condemnation of them. It contains eight "woes" which He utters against them. He calls them by many unflattering names. One was "whited sepulchres, appearing beautiful to men on the outside but full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness within" (23: 27). Such harshness, coming from the gentle Christ, may surprise us, but knowing as He did that pride, the first and basic sin of mankind and the root of all other evil in the world, was so ingrained in their very hearts, that they could never seek forgiveness, He stated nothing but the truth concerning them or to them.
In this parable which He addressed to the Pharisees themselves, He tells them once more where their pride will lead them. They will be excluded from the kingdom of God, because they will not admit or repent of their pride and their lack of charity. Instead of thanking God for the many gifts He had given them, they almost demanded thanks from God for being such pious people. They had virtues. They avoided serious injustices. They did not commit adultery. They fasted often. They paid all their Temple dues, but it was all done, not for the honor and glory of God, but for their own honor and glory. They told the world about it. They demanded the first places in the synagogues, and special marks of reverence on the streets. They had to be called "masters" as they claimed to represent and interpret Moses to the ordinary people.
One thing that we can learn from this sad story of the Pharisees is that, while God approves of no sin, His mercy and His forgiveness is available for all sinners except the proud. It isn't that God cannot or will not forgive the sin of pride but that the proud man will not ask for God's forgiveness.
We must all be on our guard against this insidious and destructive vice. It is insidious because it can grow in us almost without our knowing it, and once it has taken root it is difficult to eradicate. It is destructive because it spoils every other virtue we practice and every good work we do. Charity, or brotherly love, cannot flourish in a proud heart, for a proud heart is so full of self that it has no room for others. No true love of God can exist in a proud heart, for even the very acts of religion which a proud man performs, are done for the motive of self-glory and not for the glory of God. The Pharisee in this parable proves that fact. He boasted of his good works.
A few simple straight questions can tell us whether or not we are proud. Do we like others to see and hear of our good works, or do we prefer to do them in secret? Do we give as generously to charitable causes when no list of benefactors is published? Do we willingly take part among the rank and file in parish activities or do we feel offended if we are not the leaders? Do we criticize offhand those who are not all they should be, or do we thank God that we were saved from similar temptations? Do we always try to find an excuse for the failings of others or have we excuses for our own faults only? God forbid that any one in this congregation should be suffering from this, the worst of all vices. If anyone recognizes that he is, let him pray to God from the bottom of his heart for the opposite virtue, the true Christian virtue of humility, and look for every possible occasion to practice it. Let us all remember the two men praying in the Temple. One was full of himself and boasted to God and to all present, of his many good works. The Other just humbly beat his breast and asked for mercy-he had nothing to boast of. Yet, he left the Temple forgiven, the other returned home a worse sinner than when he had entered the Temple.
— Excerpted from The Sunday Readings Cycle C, Fr. Kevin O' Sullivan, O.F.M.
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The one who humbles himself will be exalted. (Luke 18:14)
Self-confidence is a virtue in business, in our families, and in our parishes. Think about St. Paul. He was very confident in his abilities. He was a fearless evangelist. He established churches everywhere he went. He taught, wrote, and performed miracles. Without self-confidence, Paul would not have been able to accomplish all that he did. A modern-day psychologist might describe Paul as having a “strong ego.”
But that’s a lot different from a person who has a “large ego.”
People with strong egos have let life’s ups and downs reveal their strengths and weaknesses—and they have learned how to use their strengths in a productive way. Paul was bold and pushy. He liked to get his way. He made a lot of mistakes. But he learned from them. He let them teach him humility. He even spoke about how proud and self-centered he was before he met the Lord (Philippians 3:3-10).
By contrast, people with large egos are self-centered. They are always looking for adulation and recognition. They elevate themselves over others and look down on the people they consider inferior to themselves. The Pharisee in today’s parable had a large ego. He lived a moral life. He fasted, and he gave money to the poor. But he let his goodness go to his head, as he looked down on the repentant tax collector. His ego was so large that he didn’t have room for anyone else—not even the Lord—in his life.
God wants us to be confident. He wants us to develop the gifts that he has given to us to their fullest potential so that we can push forward and build the kingdom. But we have to watch out for the trap of pride. Being confident is a good thing. But we always have to be sure that our confidence is grounded in humility, not self-glory. That’s the secret to having a strong ego, not a large one.
“Lord, teach me true humility and strength of character.”
Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18; Psalm 34:2-3, 17-19, 23; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
(Sirach 35:12-14,16-18; Psalm 34:2-3,17-19,23; 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18; Luke 18:9-14)
1. In the first reading, we hear that "the one who serves God willingly is heard; his petition reaches the heavens." How "willing" is your response to God? To what extent do you respond just out of duty versus responding out of an experience of God’s love and mercy toward you? How would you describe the difference between these two ways of responding to God?
2. The responsorial psalm say that God hears the cries of the “lowly,” “just,” "brokenhearted,” and those who are “crushed in spirit.” Why do you think this is so? Do you know of some people who are going through difficult circumstances right now? What additional steps can you take individually, or with others, to reach out to them?
3. In the letter to Timothy, Paul uses a sport’s metaphor when he says these words: “I have completed well; I have finished the race," that is, God’s call for his life. When you look at your life, how important is it to have “competed well” and “finished the race” God has given you? Why?
4. In the Gospel, the tax collector, whose prayer was humble and lowly, "went home justified" by God, while the Pharisee did not. What are some specific qualities of humility in the short, but powerful, prayer of the tax collector? How could they be incorporated by you into your own prayers?
5. The meditation describes the difference between “strong egos” and “large egos.” How would you describe the difference? How do these differences apply to you?
6. Take some time now to pray and ask the Lord to show you the difference between true humility and false humility, and for the grace to live a life of true humility. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as a starting point.
HE WHO HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED
(Biblical reflection on the 30th Ordinary Sunday [Year C] – October 27, 2013)
Gospel Reading: Luke 18:9-14
First Reading: Sirach 35:12-14,16-18; Psalms: Psalm 34:2-3,17-19,23; Second Reading: 2Timothy 4:6-8,16-18
Scripture Text:
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank Thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breath, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14 RSV)
Image the scene Jesus paints in the parable: Standing with lowered eyes behind the other men at prayer in the temple was a tax collector, well aware of his unworthiness. He was filled with contrition, and he had come in hopes of finding forgiveness and peace with God. In front of him stood a Pharisee, a frequent visitor to the temple. Obviously pleased with himself and expecting God to be pleased as well, he offered as his prayer a list of his spiritual achievements. He thanked God that his works placed him above others – especially above the pititul man behind him.
But Jesus said that it was the tax collector who went home justified (Luke 18:14). What did He find so pleasing in this lowly figure?
Once, when critized for eating with other “tax collectors and sinners”, Jesus said He had come not for the healthy but for the sick (see Luke 5:31-32). Of course, everyone is spiritually sick and in need of Jesus’ help. But only those with humble and contrite hearts will recognize and confess their need. People like the Pharisee consider themselves in good spiritual health – and through their own efforts! They are in danger of judgment because they believe that their efforts have earned them God’s favour. Failing to see themselves as spiritually empty, they see no need for God’s grace and mercy.
What about us? Do we see ourselves as sinners desperately needing God’s grace and forgiveness? Or are we good, upright people who just need to keep improving our character a little bit at a time? Though it may seem strange that we become healthy when we acknowledge our need, this is indeed the only way. Relying on the merits of Christ rather than on our own perceived goodness, we can discover that “when I am weak, then I am strong” (2Corinthians 12:10). If we trust in our self-sufficiency instead, we will ultimately be let down.
Today at Holy Mass, let us allow the blood of Jesus to wash over us and fill us with His mercy. Let us humbly confess our sins, confident that God will delight in lifting us up and send us home “justified”!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, have mercy on me because I need You. I see my sin and want to be done with it forever. Cleanse me, Lord God, that I might do Your will. I love You. Amen.
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