Luke 18:9-14

Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18

Psalm 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

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.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, when I exalt myself, please humble me. When I am truly humble, exalt me and allow me to glorify you by the witness of a holy life. Teach me each day to pray as your Son did. Guide me thoughts and words so that our relationship may grow and flourish.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Pharisee Spoke This Prayer to Himself: In the Gospel, Jesus continues his teaching on prayer with a parable about a Pharisee and a tax collector who went to the temple area to pray. The two prayed in very different ways. The Pharisee stood up proud in the front area, and, we can imagine, with his chest puffed out, while the tax collector was in the back and bent slightly in humility. The Pharisee, Luke says, prayed to himself, while the tax collector truly prayed to God. This indicates that the prayer of the Pharisee wasn’t really a raising of the mind and heart to God in conversation, but more like egotistical and self-centered thoughts. The content of the two prayers was also very different. The Pharisee spent his time comparing himself to others and thought himself superior to them. He confidently listed two of his good deeds: fasting on Wednesday and Friday, and paying tithes on his entire income. While the “rest of humanity” was greedy, he thought himself to be generous because of his tithing. While the “rest of humanity” was dishonest, he thought himself honest because he tithed all, and not just some, of his income. While the “rest of humanity” was adulterous, he thought himself in control of his sensuality and lust because he fasted twice a week. He did not go home “justified.” The prayer of the Pharisee did not bring him into a right relationship with God. In fact, it gave him a false confidence that all was well. He was oblivious to his faults and failings. While the rest of humanity was sinful, he was not. While the rest of humanity needed forgiveness, he did not. While the rest of sinful humanity was despised and rejected by God, he was not.

2. The Prayer of the Lowly: The prayer of the tax collector, by contrast, is a model prayer. It contains one of the petitions found in the Lord’s Prayer, where Jesus teaches us to ask our Father for forgiveness and mercy. The Lord’s prayer and the prayer of the tax collector both are a humble recognition of our sinful decisions. When we pray like this, we call to mind the times we chose sinful pleasures over sacrificial love. And when we ask for mercy, we don’t try to justify our sins. The First Reading teaches that “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” (Sirach 35:17-18). In its original context, the last line from the Book of Sirach meant that the Lord would soon judge the nations that oppressed Israel: “While Ben Sira may be referring specifically to the Seleucids in the early second century BC, the principle of persevering in prayer applies to all generations (Luke 18:1-8). Ben Sira assures his readers that the Lord will not delay in answering the just person’s prayer: he will show no forbearance to the nations that oppress Israel (Luke 1:71-75; 18:7-8)” (Villenueve, Sirach, 267). In the end, God repays all nations according to their words and deeds; he will judge the case of his people Israel with favor, so that they will rejoice in his merciful salvation. 

3. To the Lord Be Glory Forever and Ever: In the Second Reading, Paul also exemplifies true humility. He knows that he is near the end of his life and writes to his coworker Timothy, “the time of my departure is at hand.” When he looks back on his life, he sees that he has competed well, finished the race, and kept the faith. Unlike the Pharisee in the Gospel, Paul doesn’t list his fasting or tithing as accomplishments. He affirms that he kept the faith and endured his “first defense” at his trial because the Lord stood by him and gave him strength. Paul knows that his mission is to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles. This is how he will give glory to God: “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.”

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you were the servant of all who truly glorified the Father in every word, thought, prayer, and action. Your love knew no limits. May I strive today to follow your example and share more deeply and perfectly in your divine life.

Living the Word of God: If I knew that the time of my departure is at hand, what would I put in a letter to my family and loved ones? Can I say like Paul that I have competed well, finished the race, and kept the faith? If not, what do I need to change? If so, am I attributing my success to God’s strength and grace?