2019년 10월 27일 연중 제30주일
오늘의 복음 : http://info.catholic.or.kr/missa/default.asp
제1독서
집회서.35,15ㄴ-17.20-22ㄴ
15 주님께서는 심판자이시고, 차별 대우를 하지 않으신다. 16 그분께서는 가난한 사람을 차별하지 않으시고, 부당한 대우를 받은 사람의 기도를 들어 주시리라. 17 그분께서는 고아의 간청을 무시하지 않으시고, 과부가 쏟아 놓는 하소연을 들어 주신다.
20뜻에 맞게 예배를 드리는 이는 받아들여지고, 그의 기도는 구름에까지 올라가리라. 21 겸손한 이의 기도는 구름을 거쳐서 그분께 도달하기까지 위로를 마다한다.
그는 지극히 높으신 분께서 살펴 주실 때까지 그만두지 않으니, 22 그분께서 의로운 자들의 송사를 듣고 판결해 주신다. 주님께서는 머뭇거리지 않으신다.
제2독서
티모테오 2서.4,6-8.16-18
사 랑하는 그대여, 6 나는 이미 하느님께 올리는 포도주로 바쳐지고 있습니다. 내가 이 세상을 떠날 때가 다가온 것입니다. 7 나는 훌륭히 싸웠고, 달릴 길을 다 달렸으며, 믿음을 지켰습니다. 8 이제는 의로움의 화관이 나를 위하여 마련되어 있습니다. 의로운 심판관이신 주님께서 그날에 그것을 나에게 주실 것입니다. 나만이 아니라, 그분께서 나타나시기를 애타게 기다린 모든 사람에게도 주실 것입니다.
16나의 첫 변론 때에 아무도 나를 거들어 주지 않고, 모두 나를 저버렸습니다. 그들에게 이것이 불리하게 셈해지지 않기를 바랍니다. 17 그러나 주님께서는 내 곁에 계시면서 나를 굳세게 해 주셨습니다. 나를 통하여 복음 선포가 완수되고, 모든 민족들이 그것을 듣게 하시려는 것이었습니다. 그리고 나는 사자의 입에서 구출되었습니다.
18주님께서는 앞으로도 나를 모든 악행에서 구출하시고, 하늘에 있는 당신 나라에 들어갈 수 있게 구원해 주실 것입니다. 그분께 영광이 영원무궁하기를 빕니다. 아멘.
복음
루카가 전.18,9-14
그때에 9 예수님께서 스스로 의롭다고 자신하며 다른 사람들을 업신여기는 자들에게 이 비유를 말씀하셨다. 10 “두 사람이 기도하러 성전에 올라갔다. 한 사람은 바리사이였고, 다른 사람은 세리였다.
11 바리사이는 꼿꼿이 서서 혼잣말로 이렇게 기도하였다. ‘오, 하느님! 제가 다른 사람들, 강도짓을 하는 자나, 불의를 저지르는 자나, 간음을 하는 자와 같지 않고, 저 세리와도 같지 않으니, 하느님께 감사드립니다. 12 저는 일주일에 두 번 단식하고, 모든 소득의 십일조를 바칩니다.’
13그러나 세리는 멀찍이 서서 하늘을 향하여 눈을 들 엄두도 내지 못하고, 가슴을 치며 말하였다. ‘오, 하느님! 이 죄인을 불쌍히 여겨 주십시오.’
14내가 너희에게 말한다. 그 바리사이가 아니라, 이 세리가 의롭게 되어 집으로 돌아갔다. 누구든지 자신을 높이는 이는 낮아지고, 자신을 낮추는 이는 높아질 것이다.”
October 27, 2019
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Daily Mass : http://www.catholictv.com/shows/daily-mass
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 II
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 onl y 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."
http://evangeli.net/gospel/tomorrow
«O God, be merciful to me...»
Fr. Joan Pere PULIDO i Gutiérrez
(Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Spain)
Today, we read St. Luke's Gospel with special attention and interest. A parable addressed to our hearts. Words of life to reveal our human and Christian authenticity, which is based upon the meekness of realizing we are nothing but sinners («O God, be merciful to me, a sinner»: Lk 18:13), and in God's mercy and goodness towards us («For whoever makes himself out to be great will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be raised»: Lk 18:14).
Today, more than ever before, we need the authenticity to discover the self and emphasize the liberating reality of God's plan, in our lives and in our society. It is our right attitude if we desire the Verity of our faith to reach with all its strength today's men and women. Three are the axies that go along with this evangelic authenticity: power and love and self-control (cf. 2Tim 1:7).
Power, to be cognizant of God's word and keep it in our lives, no matter the difficulties. Especially, in our days, we must pay attention to this point, because in our environment there is plenty of self-deception. St. Vincent de Lérins warned us: «Right now the rottenness of a new heresy starts spreading and this time, to justify itself, it takes over some verses from the Scriptures, which, on top of everything, are interpreted with falsehood and fraud».
Love, to be able to look with tender eyes —that is, with God's eyes— at the person or event we have in front of us. Saint John Paul II encourages us to «foster a spirituality of communion», that —among other things— indicates «above all the heart's contemplation of the mystery of the Trinity dwelling in us, and whose light we must also be able to see shining on the face of the brothers and sisters around».
And, finally, the self-control, to be able to transmit this Verity in today's language, really incarnating God's Word in our life: «They will believe in our deeds more than in any discourse» (St. John Crysostom).
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
What Do We See?
I am drawn by a detail in today’s gospel. It has to do with eyes, with what the main characters are seeing. It is striking that the Pharisee sees the tax collector. His eyes are roving about as he prays in the temple. By contrast, the tax collector sees nothing, certainly not the Pharisee, since we are told that the tax collector “would not even raise his eyes to heaven.”
This detail raises the of question what one sees, how one sees, and reminds us of the haunting phrase spoken by the Lord in 1 Samuel 16, 7. As the sons of Jesse are presented before him, he is sure that the number one son is the Lord’s choice. But here the Lord trains and corrects Samuel’s sight: “Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance, but the Lord looks into the heart.”
How do we acquire such sight, eyes that see as the Lord sees? one only begins to see with God’s eyes when the heart has been humbled. Knowing our own sinfulness, our identity as loved sinners, gives us new eyes so that we look out on the world and, especially on other people, the way God does. When we see others from such a heart, we see brothers and sisters who are “like me,” in contrast with the eyes of the Pharisee, who does not see from the heart and can only observe that “I am not like the rest of humanity.”
Such a humble heart is the key to everything: “Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance” (St. Augustine).
Lord, humble our hearts. Give us your eyes!
http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp
"LOW," I AM WITH YOU | ||
| "The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds." �Sirach 35:17 | ||
Clouds can be a sign of God's presence or, figuratively speaking, a barrier preventing us from "getting through" to God. Clouds present no problem to the prayer of the lowly, for their prayer pierces the clouds. We can surmise that the prayer of many people is not "getting through" to God, for many people pray infrequently. If they were "getting through," they probably would be encouraged to pray always (see Lk 18:1). Who wants to keep calling a phone number when you seldom "get through"? Many of us must not be lowly, or we would be "getting through" and praying more. Signs of not being lowly are:
Jesus is lowly � from the stable at Bethlehem to the cross on Calvary to appearing as bread and wine in the Eucharist. Be like the lowly Jesus, and your prayer will pierce the clouds. | ||
| Prayer: Jesus, gentle and lowly of heart, make my heart like Yours (see Mt 11:29). | ||
| Promise: "The Lord will continue to rescue me from all attempts to do me harm and will bring me safe to His heavenly kingdom." —2 Tm 4:18 | ||
| Praise: "This is the Jesus God has raised up, and we are his witnesses" (Acts 2:32). Alleluia! |
http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/
"God, be merciful to me a sinner!"
How can we know if our prayer is pleasing to God or not? The prophet Hosea, who spoke in God's name, said: "I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice" (Hosea 6:6). The prayers and sacrifices we make to God mean nothing to him if they do not spring from a heart of love for God and for one's neighbor. How can we expect God to hear our prayers if we do not approach him with humility and with a contrite heart that seeks mercy and forgiveness? We stand in constant need of God's grace and help. That is why Scripture tells us that "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6; Proverbs 3:34).
God hears the prayer of the humble
Jesus reinforced this warning with a vivid story of two people at prayer. Why did the Lord accept one person's prayer and reject the other's prayer? Luke gives us a hint: despising one's neighbor closes the door to God's heart. Expressing disdain and contempt for others is more than being mean-minded. It springs from the assumption that one is qualified to sit in the seat of judgment and to publicly shame those who do not conform to our standards and religious practices. Jesus' story caused offense to the religious-minded Pharisees who regarded "tax collectors" as unworthy of God's grace and favor. How could Jesus put down a "religious person" and raise up a "public sinner"?
Jesus' parable speaks about the nature of prayer and our relationship with God. It does this by contrasting two very different attitudes towards prayer. The Pharisee, who represented those who take pride in their religious practices, exalted himself at the expense of others. Absorbed with his own sense of self-satisfaction and self-congratulation, his boastful prayer was centered on his good religious practices rather than on God's goodness, grace, and pardon. Rather than humbling himself before God and asking for God's mercy and help, this man praised himself while despising those he thought less worthy. The Pharisee tried to justify himself before God and before those he despised; but only God can justify us. The tax collector, who represented those despised by religious-minded people, humbled himself before God and begged for mercy. His prayer was heard by God because he had true sorrow for his sins. He sought God with humility rather than with pride.
The humble recognize their need for God's mercy and help
This parable presents both an opportunity and a warning. Pride leads to self-deception and spiritual blindness. True humility helps us to see ourselves as we really are in God's eyes and it inclines us to seek God's help and mercy. God dwells with the humble of heart who recognize their own sinfulness and who acknowledge God's mercy and saving grace. I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit (Isaiah 57:15). God cannot hear us if we boast in ourselves and despise others. Do you humbly seek God's mercy and do you show mercy to others, especially those you find difficult to love and to forgive?
"Lord Jesus, may your love and truth transform my life - my inner thoughts, intentions, and attitudes, and my outward behavior, speech, and actions. Where I lack charity, kindness, and forbearance, help me to embrace your merciful love and to seek the good of my neighbor, even those who cause me ill-favor or offense. May I always love as you have loved and forgive others as you have forgiven."
Psalm 34:2-3,17-19,22
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and be glad.
3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!
17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
22 The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: The medicine of repentance, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"How useful and necessary a medicine is repentance! People who remember that they are only human will readily understand this. It is written, 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble' (1 Peter 5:5, James 4:6, Job 22:29, Proverbs 3:34). The Pharisee was not rejoicing so much in his own clean bill of health as in comparing it with the diseases of others. He came to the doctor. It would have been more worthwhile to inform him by confession of the things that were wrong with himself instead of keeping his wounds secret and having the nerve to crow over the scars of others. It is not surprising that the tax collector went away cured, since he had not been ashamed of showing where he felt pain." (excerpt from Sermon 351.1)
http://www.homilies.net/
30 Ordinary Time
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle C
Luke 18:9-14
A priest gave a homily on this celebrated tale, says Arthur Tonne. At the end of the Liturgy, a man passing him said breezily "Boy, Father, I sure hope they get your point." Do you get the feeling he himself missed the message Jesus was giving? And, more importantly, do we? Do we believe church is a place where we go to find out how our neighbor might lead a better life. Have we become legends in our own minds?
First the good news. The pharisee of the Gospel wasn't really a bad guy. He had a lot going for himself.
The record shows he was honest and did not cheat on his neighbor. How are we in these departments? He fasted two times a week. Do we fast? He gave 10% of his income to God. The charts show that we in terms of income are more stingy than our parents. He prayed four times each day. When some of us come to Sunday church, we applaud ourselves. We feel that we are doing God a favor. A few of us even slip out before the Liturgy is ended. If in doing so we give bad example to young people, that is their problem and not ours. If the pharisee believed in the Eucharist as we say we do, we would not be able to dynamite him out of a parish church. Would that we had the chutzpah to imitate the pharisee in what Joseph Donders call the Big Three: prayer, fasting, and good works. The world about us would be a more delightful place to live in!
And let's check out the bad news on this famous Gospel character. He was a proud prig. He was swept off his feet big time by his importance. William James reminds us: "A great many people think they are thinking when they are really rearranging their prejudices." His prayer consisted of trumpets to his humble self. The object of worship was himself. He was telling God there were only two perfect people - himself and God. And he was entertaining very serious doubts about God.
We should reflect that the word humility was born from the Latin word humus or earth. Thus humility demands that we stay close to the earth and, more specifically, reality.
But many of us are pretty proud about our own correctness. If we ran our prayer through a computer, we would discover that oftentimes we pray not to God but to statues curiously resembling ourselves.
This then is a parable that the Christ spoke years ago in Palestine not for the Bobs and Marys around me. Rather He was addressing my own sometimes less than honorable self. Was it Socrates or his first cousin once removed who said that each of us would do well to know ourselves? Were we to genuinely know our own selves we would be humble folk. And likely to remain so, for we would realize that we have much to be humble about. No one has yet improved upon the famous line that pride goeth before the fall.
William Barclay tells the story of the woman tourist in Germany. The guide took a group through Beethoven's house. He showed them the piano on which the genius had composed his Moonlight Sonata. A woman in the group immediately sat down and played some bars from the sonata. The guide told the group that Paderewski had recently been shown the piano. The woman gushed, "And I wager he sat down and played just as I did." Archly the guide said, "No, Madam, he said he was not worthy to touch those keys."
I have met few genuinely great people. one was Henry Mann, the president of an international company. He would not speak of himself. He wanted to know of my work. I was very proud to tell him at boring length. When I left him, I regretfully realized I had been the pharisee of this parable. He had been the protagonist. He said nothing about himself and allowed me to rant and rave proudly about myself. In so acting, he taught me much about myself.
Mr Mann had made his own the line of Francis of Assisi. "The beginning of wisdom," said he, "is to know who God is and who you are." This parable would have all of us copy Henry Mann's style.
Frjoeshomilies.net
30 Ordinary Time
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Walking into Church
For many of us, it is difficult to walk into a Church, even our own parish Church. We enter, and we look at the tabernacle. Perhaps the thought comes into our minds: God is looking at me. How does he see me this week. Was I better? Was I worse? Some of us may have been away from Church for a few weeks, or months, or years. Maybe we need to talk to Him about our absence. For some of us that might mean our absence from practicing the faith on Sundays, and receiving communion. For others, perhaps for most of us, that might mean our absence from practicing the faith in our daily lives. Sometimes it is scary to look at the tabernacle. Sometimes we want to join the Tax Collector and sit in the back and say, "Lord, have mercy on me a sinner."
When I came here as pastor nearly 28 years ago, I was surprised to see that at some of the Masses sections of the Church were roped off so the congregation would be forced into the front and middle sections of the Church. I put an end to that immediately. There were several reasons why I was and am still against this. First of all, I do not want people to be confronted with do's and don't's as soon as they walk into Church. Second, there are some people who need to be in the back for health reasons. There are some people who cannot handle crowds and need to sit away from others. Some doctors and emergency workers may be on call and need to sit close to a door to step out and answer their cell phones if they start to vibrate. But my main reason for getting rid of the ropes was something a man once said to me after I tried to convince people to sit closer to the altar. He said, "Father, I just recently returned to Church. I've made the big step to walk through the door, but you've got to let me ease my way up into being in the middle of the congregation. There are a whole lot of things that the Lord and I need to deal with first."
For some of us it is difficult to walk into the Church. We are concerned: Are other people looking at me? Maybe there are people here who have seen me at my worse. Maybe some have heard stories that I cannot deny. There are some people here who are so serious about the faith, far more than I have been. Do I belong here with them? Am I treading on their turf? The priest often talks about each of us being a different member of the Body of Christ, but, honestly, sometimes I think I might be a toenail.
For some of us it can be difficult to walk into a Church because we may fear that we are joining those who are "holier than thou." Thoughts fly through our heads that so many others are ignoring God this Sunday, but we are here. We think, "How many members of my extended family will not worship this weekend? How many kids in my school, or people at work, will not worship this weekend? When I get up early to go to Mass, I drive by house after house full of people that wouldn't think of disturbing their Sunday sleep-in with community worship." And the thought flashes quickly into our minds: That must make me better than them. Then we realize that we are judging others, and acting like that Pharisee who went to the Temple to remind God of how much better he was than others.
For some of us it was difficult to walk into Church today. But we need to be here. The relationship with God that each of us has been gifted with flows through the Church, the Saved Community. It is through the Saved Community that we offer Christ on the Cross to our Heavenly Father. It is through the Saved Community that we receive Jesus' Body and Blood. We need to nurture our role in this Community.
At the same time, our relationship with God is unique. We are individuals. In the eyes of God no one is fundamentally better or worse than another person. He created us to be ourselves, our best selves. That's how He sees us. Our God really is a Good, Good Father. Good parents do not view their children as better or worse than each other. They see them as different from each other. "This child struggles in math but is a great reader. His brother is the exact opposite." Good parents see both children as unique and care for them for whom each is, not in comparison to their brother or sister. We are God's children. God sees us as individuals. He loves each of us as unique individuals. Yes, He sees our sinfulness, but He forgives each of us for the times we have not returned his love. None of us are fundamentally better than any other person. We all live under the Mercy of God.
Catholicism is often accused of putting people on guilt trips. This is not true. Catholicism puts people on reality trips. Catholicism dares to speak about unpopular topics like sin. Catholicism dares to invite people to consider their own participation in sin and seek forgiveness. It asserts that our salvation is a process we are engaged in. We are being saved. Catholicism recognizes that as human beings we are continually tempted to sin. Sometimes we give in to temptation. Our Church reminds us that the Lord was one of us. He experienced temptation, and, though He did not give in to temptation, He understands our need for mercy. He gives us the Sacrament of Mercy, Penance, because He wants His Mercy not our guilt to direct our lives.
Catholicism is not concerned with guilt. It is concerned with mercy. People are continually telling their priests how much they need the Mercy of God. They are realists. We all need the mercy of God. As we come to a deeper understanding of all that God has done for us, we also come to a deeper understanding of how much we need His mercy and forgiveness. Sometimes we read about great saints like St. Francis of Assisi or Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and we are shocked that they and all the saints saw themselves as great sinners. The saints had a profound realization of the extent of God's love for them and the many times they have not returned His love. We are all called to be saints. We are called to holiness. If we strive to respond to the call to holiness, to sanctity, then we also must realize how much we need God's mercy.
Today the parable of the Tax Collector and the Pharisee leads us to the Pilgrim's Prayer. The pilgrim's prayer is both simple and profound. It is the prayer of the man in the back of the Temple who realized that he is totally dependent on God's love, a love that he had often rejected. The pilgrim's prayer is the prayer that we all need to say with our hearts throughout our day. The Pilgrim's Prayer is: Lord Jesus , have mercy on me a sinner.
A pharisee and a tax collector go into the Temple. only one prays. only one is a humble enough to recognize his need for the Healing Hand of God. And that one leaves in the embrace of the Lord's love.
For some of us, it is difficult to walk into a Church. But God is here. We need Him. We need His Mercy. We need the strength of His sacraments. We need to walk into the Church because we need the strength and the courage He provides. We need His grace so we can walk out of the Church with Him.
Stmaryvalleybloom.org
* Available in Spanish - see Spanish Homilies
30 Ordinary Time
Bottom line: God does not want scrupulosity. He wants humble acceptance of his mercy. God wants us to come to the truth.
A few weeks ago we asked Jesus, "Increase our faith". The gift of faith enables us to enter a relationship with God. Faith makes prayer possible. Prayer in turn increases faith.
Prayer begins with gratitude. Like the ten lepers Jesus cures, you and I have received unexpected blessings. We typically take them for granted, but when we return to give thanks, Jesus says, "Your faith has saved you". Gratitude increases faith.
For prayer it's enough to rest with gratitude. But, still, we have needs and those we love are suffering. Like the aggrieved widow last Sunday we place those needs before God with persistence. We thank, then ask.
Today we see a third step of prayer - repent. You and I have received so much yet we turn from God. We set up some false god thinking it will bring peace: a shopping trip to the mall or on Amazon, the lure of drugs and porn, explosions of anger or simply clamming up. To repent, to turn back to God, we can use the tax collector's prayer: "O, God, be merciful to me, a sinner."
Bishop Robert Barron does that when he makes a morning Holy Hour. Going before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, he prays the breviary and the rosary. Then he often spends time saying the Jesus Prayer, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Some Eastern monks say this prayer continuously to the rhythm of their breathing. "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God/ have mercy on me, a sinner."
If a person asks mercy of God, he no longer needs fear any human being. God, after all, knows us through and through, all our failings, miseries and offenses.
The tax collector who begged mercy went home justified. He had humbled himself and now he can stand before God - and before any man.
The pharisee, on the other hand, considers himself a good person - a very good person! He justifies himself. Consequently God cannot justify him. God is Truth. He cannot take part in a lie.
The tax collector sees the truth. We follow his example. We begin Mass by saying "I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do..." Does this seem exaggerated? Well, God does not want scrupulosity. He wants humble acceptance of his mercy. God wants us to come to the truth.
In your prayer begin by humbly thanking God and asking for what you need. Then repent and praise God. Remember the acronym: TARP - thank, ask, repent, praise. All this requires humility. As Jesus says, "whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
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30 Ordinary Time
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
10/21/2019 0 Comments
Jesus pulls no punches in today's Gospel text about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. Typically, he chooses as his characters first one who is ostensibly the most upright and religious and then the other who is despised by everyone. And, as ever in his parables, Jesus turns the accepted order upside down.
We listen to the Pharisee's wordy prayer: 'I' thank you, God, that 'I' am not grasping, unjust and adulterous like the rest of mankind, and particularly that 'I' am not like this Tax Collector here. 'I' fast twice a week; 'I' pay tithes on all 'I' get. His prayer has more 'I's' than a potato!
It is obvious that the Pharisee's prayer is turned in on himself. He might as well be thanking himself instead of God because really he is not praying to him at all; in fact, he is trying to show off in front of God. He is not praising God he is praising himself. He is parading all his so-called good deeds before God. But he knows God so little that he has not realised what it really is that God is looking for or wants from him. At root all the Pharisee is doing is comparing himself to his fellow man.
The Tax Collector on the other hand knows how unworthy he is and implores God for mercy. What he is doing is not comparing himself to other men but comparing himself to God and finding himself wanting. He knows his sins, they are always before him, but because the habit of sin has become deeply ingrained it is very difficult for him to change his ways.
And this is precisely what true humility consists in; not comparing ourselves to others but comparing ourselves to God, or perhaps more easily to Jesus his incarnate Son. When we do this we begin to see ourselves in the correct light; we begin to see ourselves in true perspective. We realise that before God we are absolutely nothing. In comparison to Jesus we are utterly hopeless but in his mercy God saves us and raises us up. He forgives the contrite heart; he bathes us repentant sinners with salvation.
I was reading about the famous High Court Judge and Lord Chancellor Lord Hailsham who died in 2001. He was a strong Anglican all his life. I think it was coming to terms with the death of his mother while he was a student at Oxford that made him into a convinced Christian. Until he died at the age of 94 he went down on his knees to pray every night. He said once, 'I say the Lord's Prayer and I pray for help, comfort and strength.'
He enjoyed recollecting the occasion when saw his brother on the other side of the central lobby of the House of Commons and shouted out his name to attract his attention. As he called out 'Neil' he was most amused to see several American tourists fall to their knees.
When asked in an interview how such an august legal personage as himself would meet his maker for the Final Judgement he said that he would immediately admit his guilt and throw himself on the mercy of the court. I don't want to praise up Lord Hailsham too much, but in that phrase he summed up precisely the attitude of the tax collector from today's parable.
But this is a very tricky parable because the minute you say, 'Thank God that I'm not like this Pharisee' ... woops... you have become just like him! So, if comparing ourselves to others is useless then what is useful when it comes to prayer? I think that what is the most useful is what I have said so many times from this lectern: attitude.
What we need to work on is not lengthy words; or promises to God telling him how we intend to change; or doing good deeds over and over again in an attempt to earn his favour. What we need to work on is our attitude. And we can see from our reading of this Gospel that the Pharisee and the Tax Collector had totally different attitudes to God. And Jesus is quite clear which of them God prefers.
When I was a Prison Chaplain, I once met a girl there who told me that she didn't come to mass because all Church-goers were hypocrites. I got down on one knee and said how delighted I was to meet the only person I had ever come across who wasn't a hypocrite. It caused much hilarity among the other prisoners who were standing around I can tell you. It was immediately clear that this girl's attitude was one of constantly judging other people. But she can't have been much of a saint herself otherwise she wouldn't have ended up in prison. Fortunately, she had a sense of humour and had a good laugh at herself.
The question then is this: what is our fundamental attitude. This is what Jesus is always trying to uncover and bring into the light. Periodically, we need to look at ourselves in the cold light of day, we need to see ourselves not so much as others see us but as we really are. Traditionally we call this an examination of conscience and it is something that should feature very regularly in the life of every Catholic. Our ancestors knew of the importance of a proper examination of conscience and many of them made one every night before they went to bed. But then perhaps they were on the path to saintliness when many of us are not truly committed to achieving sanctity.
Yes, we all want to be in the back row with that Tax Collector—certainly most Catholics seem to want to seeing how full the back rows in Churches always are! But, of course, it doesn't matter where you sit in the Church, it's where you are in life and where you are in God's plan for the world that really matters.
Our job as a Christian is to strive always for perfection, but never to think ourselves perfect.
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