18/03/23 | Reflection 1748 | Fr Greyfon Rodrigues OP | Luke 18:9-14

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We are in the 3rd week of Lent and two more weeks to go to celebrate the feast of Easter. It means we are exactly in the middle of lent. Having kept the Lenten observances so far rather faithfully, the Church today cautions us through the gospel not to fall into the sin of pride or spiritual arrogance but rather to remain humble and steadfast in our spiritual journey.
Today’s gospel, taken from Luke 18:9-14, speaks of two people going to the temple to pray, namely a Pharisee and a Publican. A devout Jew observed prayer three times a day – 9 am, 12 midday and 3 pm. Moreover, if they could offer these prayers in the temple then they considered it would be specially efficacious. In this context, Jesus says this parable.
The first person who is mentioned in the parable is a pharisee. He had no intention to offer his prayers to God but he prays with himself. He only informs God about his routine. “O God, I give thanks to you that I am not like the rest of humanity. Robbers, unjust, adulterous or even as this tax collector chooses to be. I fast twice between sabbaths and I give tithes from all that I possess”. The Pharisee did not really go to pray; he went to inform God how good he was. In other words, he advertised himself.
On the other hand, the Publican, standing afar off, without even lifting his eyes to God, makes a prayer of just one sentence, “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner”. This shortest prayer makes him justified before God.
This parable teaches us three things about prayer.
Firstly, No man who is proud can pray. As the saying goes “The gate of heaven is so low that none can enter it save upon his knees”. As Jesus himself says towards the end of the parable “for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted”.
Secondly, No man who despises his fellow person can pray. In prayer we do not lift ourselves above our fellow person. We are all sinners, we all need the mercy of God.
Thirdly, True prayer comes from setting our lives beside the life of God. Though what Pharisee said in prayer is true. He did not lie in his prayer. The question is not, “Am I as good as my fellow-men?” But the question should be, “Am I as good as God?” As Jesus himself says in Mt 5:48 “Be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect”. Our role model is God himself and not any human person.
Dear brothers and sisters, in the very next chapter we have a story of Zacchaeus. Today’s parable is personified in the person of Zacchaeus. Who was also a tax collector but by the mercy of God he was justified. As Jesus himself says, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Lk 5:32). No matter how sinful we are but if we are humble and repentant, God will show his mercy upon us.


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[iliendas]

Praise the Lord 🙏 God bless you Father 🙏 Amen 🙏✝️👏

[alangaramnapoleonfernando]

Amen. Praise and Thank the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thank you Fr. Greyfon Rodriques.