30TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C

Sirach 35:12-14.16-18

Psalm 34

2 Timothy 4:6-8.16-18

Luke 18:9-14

HUMILITY PAYS

Last week, we were encouraged to persevere in prayer. Today’s readings identify humility as the indispensable disposition of the heart for an efficacious and fruitful prayer life. To pray is first of all to put oneself in the presence of God. It is recognizing our smallness and unworthiness before him, and acknowledging our need of his mercy and grace. 

In the gospel passage, Jesus addresses the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector to those who are convinced to be righteous and despise others. Both men went up to the temple to pray. As the Pharisee looks around (a sign of distraction in prayer) and sees the tax collector, his prayer turned into a self-righteous act of judgment, comparing himself with others, and boasting about his “piety” before God. But the tax collector recognized his sinfulness and his need of God's mercy. He would not even raise his eyes to heaven. According to Jesus, the tax collector went back home justified whilst the Pharisee was not. 

The prayer of the tax collector “reached the heavens” and “pierced the cloud”, to use the language of the first reading.  He won God's favour, for God hears the cry of the one who calls him with humble heart. He is a God of justice who is close to the contrite and humbled heart. As such, let us ask ourselves: are we humble before God while praying? Are we often arrogant, judging and condemning others while praying? Do our prayers, especially during Mass, turn into “gossip” time like that of the Pharisee? Do we give praise and thanks to God for who we are and what we have been able to do, or do we praise ourselves as if we do everything by our own might? Do we recognize our need of God and his mercy? Let us remember that we all need God and his mercy, for we are nothing without him. 

Finally, like St Paul, let us run the race set before us, and fight the good fight. Let the difficulties and anxieties of this present life not make us lose our faith and hope. And in everything, let us be humble and God will exalt us. May he bless and keep all of us. Amen