Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
SABBATH GUIDE
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
First Reading-Sir 35:12-14, 16-18 | Responsorial Psalm - Ps 34 | Second Reading - 2 Tm 4:6-8, 16-18 | Gospel - Lk 18:9-14
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102322.cfm
“...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.'” (Luke 18:13)
What is our attitude before God? Do we come before Him full of ourselves, wanting to show off our accomplishments? Or do we come before Him empty and humble, recognizing how much we need Him? Acknowledging our total dependence on God is the starting point of the spiritual life, which is articulated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church as fundamental in the pursuit of sanctity: “the saints have always had a lively awareness that their merits were pure grace” (CCC #2011). From His hand comes all that we are and all we call our own - any good that we can do completely flows from Him.
The Pharisee in the Gospel seems to be a “good” man, but only the tax collector is justified. St. Therese of Lisieux, whose feast day was on October 1, said: “As soon as God sees us convinced of our own nothingness — He stretches out His hand to us; but if we wish to attempt great things, even under the pretext of zeal, He leaves us alone. It is sufficient therefore to humble oneself and to bear our imperfections meekly: that is true sanctity.” We must be on guard that spiritual pride does not rob us of all that God desires for us. One way to do that is to frequent the Sacrament of Reconciliation. With the same spirit as the tax collector, we expose our sinfulness before the Lord and receive His mercy.
Another spiritual discipline is to memorize what is called the “Jesus Prayer.” Praying the words “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner” frequently throughout our day allows us to take a posture of receptivity to the merciful grace of the Lord. Let us always come before the Lord with this attitude of humility and reverence, acknowledging our lowliness and His greatness, “for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Lk 18:14).
Is your attitude before God more like the Pharisee or the tax collector? Why might that be?
Are there any places in your life where you depend more on yourself and your deeds than on God?
What is one thing you could try to combat spiritual pride and grow in greater humility before the Lord?