CCC 588, 2559, 2613, 2631: Humility as the foundation of prayer
CCC 2616: Jesus hears prayer made in faith
CCC 2628: Adoration as the attitude of man who knows he is a creature
CCC 2631: Prayer for pardon as the first kind of prayer of petition
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| “The Pharisee and the Tax Collector” by James Tissot c. 1896-1898 |
Reading 1: 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.
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Commentary on Sir 35:12-14, 16-18
In this passage from the Book of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) the effectiveness of prayer is extolled. The author explains that God hears the prayers of all, and that one’s station in life makes no difference (“he hears the cry of the oppressed”). In this instruction, the son of Sirach echoes Leviticus 9:15 which articulates a constant call to the faithful to show preferential treatment to the poor and the widow. God, we are told, always hears those who believe in him and answers.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 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.
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Commentary on Ps 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23
Psalm 34 is a song of thanksgiving. The psalmist, fresh from the experience of being rescued (Psalm 34:5, 7), can teach the "poor," those who are defenseless, to trust in God alone. This psalm, in the words of one being unjustly persecuted, echoes hope for deliverance and freedom. Response: “The LORD redeems the lives of his servants; no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him."
CCC: Ps 34:3 716
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Reading II: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Reading II: 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.
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Commentary on 2 Tm 4:6-8, 16-18
St. Paul sees the end of his life as imminent, and gives thanks to God for giving him the strength and words to provide an adequate defense against his prosecutors. It is clear that he views his own impending martyrdom as an act of worship, visibly proclaiming the message he was sent to deliver to the Gentiles. At the close of his life Paul could testify to the accomplishment of what Christ himself foretold concerning him at the time of his conversion: "I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name." (Acts 9:16)
CCC: 2 Tm 4 2015
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Gospel 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."
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Commentary on Lk 18:9-14
The Gospel story is the Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican (tax collector). Here we find Jesus addressing those who think of themselves as closer to God, and therefore better than those who are not so scrupulous in their worship. It is the second of two consecutive parables on prayer. In this one, the Lord takes a critical stance against the prideful Pharisee, telling his disciples that, like the tax collector, their prayer must recognize that all have sinned and all must be humble before God. The parable carries a message and image similar to the earlier parable (Luke 7:36-50) where Christ forgives the sinful woman in the house of Simon.
Jesus points out that the Pharisee, who focuses on pious acts to demonstrate his own holiness, misses the point of God’s desire for authentic worship, while the humility and authenticity of the tax collector will be “justified.” It is easier to hear in the Jerusalem Bible version which says; “This man, I tell you, went home again at rights with God; the other did not.”
CCC: Lk 18:9-14 2559, 2613; Lk 18:9 588; Lk 18:13 2631, 2667, 2839
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Reflection:
Jesus takes aim at pride in his parable about the prayers of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee was not praying in sincerity to God. He was boasting about his scrupulous practice of Mosaic Law. He was claiming to be better than those who were either unable or unwilling to submit to the rigorous pharisaic practices.
On the other hand, the tax collector recognized his failings and humbly submitted himself to God’s mercy. He confesses from his heart: “'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.'” His simple prayer is unassuming and strikes to the heart of abject surrender to God’s love. The plea for forgiveness is full of contrition. In the spirit of Psalm 51 which states “a contrite and humble heart, O God, you will not refuse.”
About this passage the Catechism of the Catholic Church says:
2667 This simple invocation of faith developed in the tradition of prayer under many forms in East and West. The most usual formulation, transmitted by the spiritual writers of the Sinai, Syria, and Mt. Athos, is the invocation, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us sinners." It combines the Christological hymn of Philippians 2:6-11 with the cry of the publican and the blind men begging for light.18 By it the heart is opened to human wretchedness and the Savior's mercy.
18. Cf. Mk 10:46-52; Lk 18:13.
The message is clear. The Lord asks us to submit to his mercy, to become vulnerable as a child, offering our contrition without expectations. Secular society sees this as foolishness, they see humility as “an esteem problem,” and contrition as weakness. This attitude bespeaks unmerited pride. Just as the Pharisee in the Lord’s parable was prideful, and in his pride fell to sin, so are secular attitudes that look down on the poor and marginalized.
It is a hard thing that the Lord asks. He asks us to see in ourselves the sins we have committed and hold them before us. It is only in this way, constantly reminded of our human failings, that we can keep pride out of the equation. Even as we do this we must be cautious not to fall into the trap of self-deprecation. We remember also, that while we must recognize our sins, we are beloved of God, his adopted children, prized above all his creation. Basking in that love and mercy, we can go about our lives confident that if we balance our knowledge of being God’s special favorites, with our personal failings to live up to that role, we can strike the right tone of humility that honors God, not dishonors ourselves.
Today our prayer is simple. Today we borrow the prayer of the tax collector and pray earnestly: “'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.'”
Pax
[1] Catechism links are taken from the Homiletic Directory, published by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 29 June 2014.
[2] The picture is “The Pharisee and the Tax Collector” by James Tissot c. 1896-1898.
[4] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
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