First Reading
Sirach 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.
Second Reading
2 Timothy 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 Cycle Cycle C
Luke 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.”
If we pray and expect that our prayers might be heard, then we must pray humbly, asking the mercy of the Lords and not demanding his attention. We can give our love and prayers to Him, expecting nothing but having total confidence in His love for us and that He will arrange all things for our good.
The first reading today is from the book of Sirach, one of the Wisdom books. This book teaches us about many things: God has no favorites, the prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds and will reach its goal.
We can compare this to the Gospel today, from Saint Luke, which presents us with two people, both praying. The first person tells God all that he has done that is good. The other simply tells God that he is a sinner. The sinner is heard.
There is so much fear today of admitting that we are sinners or about defining ourselves as sinners. We would rather be known as children of God, as those loved by God. Both ways of looking at us are true. On the other hand, although we are children of God and loved by God, we are not faithful to Him and do not respond to His love. He never rejects us. Both descriptions of us are true and yet from our side, truly we are only sinners and merit nothing and that is a truth from which we should not hide.
We can always rejoice that He loves us, that He invites us to share His life, that He constantly reaches out to us no matter how many times we turn away. We need to have that confidence in Him. Yet we should never be ashamed to admit: I am a sinner and unworthy of His love.
What a miracle that He loves us! What infinite compassion He has towards us! What tender mercy He shows to us!
The second Letter to Timothy gives us the perspective of Saint Paul: I have kept in the race, I have persevered, I trust in the Lord. The race is simply to live our life here on earth with this total trust in God, no matter how often we fail or turn aside. We know the truth of this life: God loves us. We know the path of this life: love of God and love of our neighbor, especially our enemy. We know that He will always give us the strength to believe if we only ask Him.
My sisters and brothers, God invites us to see ourselves as we are. The more humbly we live, the more confidence we have in His love and compassion. Let us take the time today to pray as did the Tax Collector: Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.