God, be merciful to me, a sinner!

The Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C 

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. Amen.

Sir 35:12-14, 16-18

The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds.

A reading from the Book of Sirach

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.

The word of the Lord.

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.

℟. 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.

℟. 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.

℟. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

Second Reading
2 Tm 4:6-8, 16-18

From now on, the crown of righteousness awaits me.

A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to Timothy

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.

The word of the Lord.

Acclamation before the Gospel
2 Cor 5:19

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.


Gospel
Lk 18:9-14

The tax collector, not the Pharisee, went home justified

✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

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.”

At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:

The Gospel of the Lord.

All reply:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection 

Jesus addresses today’s parable to those who are filled with self-importance, trust in themselves and look down on others.  To better convey His message, Jesus makes a number of strong contrasts, such as, ‘went up to the temple’ and ‘went down to his home’, “exalt themselves and humble themselves.”  But the most significant contrast is that between the disposition of the heart of the Pharisee to that of the tax collector. 

The tax collector was looked upon as a sinner.  Hated by the people because they collected taxes for the Romans, they were also seen as dishonest when it came to money.  The tax collector in this parable was aware that he was a sinner, he humbly prayed to God with his eyes cast to the ground, repentantly striking his breast and asking for mercy for his sins. 

On the other hand, the Pharisee observed the Law—in fact, he did more than the law required—while also fulfilling his civic duties.  The Pharisee’s fault did not lie in the good he accomplished, but in his lack of humility and love towards his neighbour in his prayer.   

His claim to holiness was not founded on a humble and sincere conversion but upon his works.  He was full of self-importance and regarded himself as a pious man because of the works which he wrought in the presence of others. However, he possessed little genuine love towards God and his neighbour. 

The behaviour of the ‘man of God’ contrasts greatly with the way God acts towards us:  not only does He not exclude us because of our sins, but He also looks with great love upon the little good that we possess.  The little good that is within us is not the result of our own effort, but through the grace of God.  Therefore, as God’s mercy reaches us, it must also reach others through us. 

What is our attitude when approaching God? Is our behaviour towards others in accordance with what God desires?  Who do we consider good or bad people?  How do we behave toward those who are not part of our inner circle?  Do we try to get to know them, or do we avoid them?  These are some of the questions we must address to ourselves in the light of God’s treatment of us as well as in the light of the teachings and examples that Jesus Christ gave us during His life. 

If, through God’s grace, we find within us a little bit of goodness, we must humbly and sincerely examine ourselves to see if this goodness justifies us—makes us righteous.  Whoever is righteous before God treats their neighbour with the same goodness and mercy that God shows to us.  God is compassionate toward our weakness; so, must we behave towards others in the same way.  Before we feel scandalised or judge others we must stop and ask ourselves: what would we do if we found ourselves in the same circumstances? 

Prayer

Lord God, I desire to treat others with respect.  Guard me against the desire to be esteemed and praised.  Protect me from seeking the centre of attention and being admired by others.  Remind me of the times that I have stumbled in my past life and that “no one has the right to be filled with pride, because all things come from God, through God and for God” (St. George Preca). 

Allow me to repeat constantly: “O God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” 

 

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