Readings: Hosea 5:15-6:6, Ps. 51:3-4,18-21, Luke 18:9-14
“I tell you; this man went down to his house justified rather than the other. Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14)
On Ash Wednesday, we heard Jesus say that we should not pray publicly to attract attention to ourselves. Pray secretly, and God, who sees you secretly, will reward you. Today, Jesus gives us a parable of a Pharisee who, in the name of prayer, insulted a tax collector. The tax collector felt ashamed of himself; he stood at a distance, unable to raise his head. What does this parable teach us?
1. Avoid Comparing Yourself with Others: This parable teaches us to repent of vices such as using others to measure one’s progress in life, making others look small and unimportant, speaking ill of others, and praying against them. Repent from the philosophy of “I beta pass my neighbour.” Compare yourself only with who you were yesterday. Seek to improve, not to impress.
2. Remove the Logs in Your Eyes before the Specks in Others: God is not a man who can be deceived. If you believe you have no sin, it is only because you have not examined your conscience and are too busy analysing the faults of others. Do you think you would have performed better if you had been exposed to the same temptations they faced? Do you know their background, the kind of home training they got, the scandals they were exposed to, and the battles they have fought?
3. Pride Casts a Shadow on Righteousness: The devil was the most perfect of all the angels; he had all the virtues but lacked humility. He fell from glory while attempting to challenge God. Assuming you discover that you are entirely sinless, does this give you the right to praise yourself? Jesus says anyone who exalts himself will be humbled.
4. Help to Bring Them out of Darkness: We may not have the courage to tell others the truth to their face, but we go about destroying their reputation. This is wrong. Jesus said: “I came to call sinners, not the righteous, to repentance.” If you are aware of someone’s sin but have never attempted to convert them, do not shame them like this Pharisee in today’s Gospel passage. Honey gathers more flies than vinegar.
5. Never Be Afraid to Pray When Your Conscience Bites Hard: Sometimes, we feel unworthy of approaching God’s presence. Satan, the accuser of the brethren (cf. Rev. 12:10), capitalises on our guilt to make us wallow deeper and deeper in sin. Satan, the liar per excellence (cf. John 8:44), tells us that there is no need to pray. Meanwhile, God is waiting for us to return home like the father in the story of the Prodigal Son. The best time to pray is when you are in the shoes of the tax collector.
- God accepts the prayer of the contrite, who can say, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” Your heart may condemn you, but God will never condemn you. You may struggle to forgive yourself, but God has forgiven you. In today’s first reading, God speaks through the Prophet Hosea, saying, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, save us from all Pharisaic attitudes. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (Saturday of the 3rd week of Lent, Liturgical Colour: Violet. Bible Study: Hosea 5:15-6:6, Ps. 51:3-4,18-21, Luke 18:9-14).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu