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Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings
First Reading: Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18
Responsorial: Psalm 34:2-3, 17-19, 23
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Gospel: Luke 18:9-14
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/102719.cfm
“The Lord hears the cry of the poor,” is our responsorial today and in the first reading from Sirach we hear, “The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds…” Again, in these passages as we have heard before, those who are “poor in spirit” are those who do not put other things before God, like wealth or other worldly attachments. In other words, this is a poverty that is not focused on me, but on God. Indeed, these readings lay the foundation for what we hear proclaimed in the Gospel according to Luke today.
Consider this idea from the noted Catholic theologian Karl Rahner, from the time we are born, we as individual babies are perhaps the most self-centered beings in all creation. We behave as if we are the center of the world, and perhaps that’s how it must be if we are to survive. But as we grow and develop – that is, as we mature – the goal is for us transcend our selfishness and move toward openness to the other. Shifting our focus away from ourselves and toward other is truly an act of love. As Christian disciples, our ultimate goal is to shift our focus away from ourselves and this world and to focus on the God who saves us through Christ Jesus.
To illustrate this point in today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee in prayer to God describes just how much better he is over everybody else because of the things he does. What is that prayer about? Well, he’s all me, me, me, isn’t he? You have to wonder if the god he prays to isn’t really himself and in that sense, perhaps the Pharisee is without love.
But the tax collector comes before God and bows low. He knows he has lead a life of sin by collaborating with the Roman occupiers. Maybe he considers himself unworthy, and yet he finds the courage enough to approach God and ask for mercy. His prayer is simple and beautiful. In contrast to the Pharisee whose prayer is turned inward, the tax collector who probably does the things he knows he shouldn’t, but can’t for various reasons stop himself, prays to God and begs for mercy.
His prayer has become known as the Jesus prayer, and I encourage you to learn it. The prayer is a reminder that we are not the center of the universe – that we are accountable to the people around us and to the God who will judge us at the end of time. Even if there are circumstances in our lives that lead us to sin that we cannot get rid of, we must continue to seek mercy as we endeavor to make changes in our lives. We should strive to be like we heard in our second reading from 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” Indeed, for those who keep the faith, we remember that Christ is our King. His throne is a wooden cross and that is where His victory was won, and He is King forever.
Homework! Having been nourished by the Word of God proclaimed and, in the Eucharist, I encourage you to reflect upon and to do the following:
- Make a list of the good things you do and could brag about if you wanted to. We should be mindful of those things we attach an inordinate amount of pride to.
- Make a list of the things you do that make you feel unworthy and in need of God’s mercy.
- When you finish your lists, read them carefully, then pray silently the Jesus Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
I think by doing our homework this week we might be reminded to exercise our focus away from ourselves and toward those around and ultimately toward our Savior Jesus Christ. Do you go it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!
Notes:
1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, Jesus Prayer nos. 2616 and 2667.