Anchored in Hope, Forward in Faith
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Thirtieth Sunday Year C
Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18 II Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 Luke 18:9-14
Reflection: Fr. BillyIt is the last Sunday in October and the 30th Sunday of the Liturgical Year, which means we have just four more weeks of Year C Sunday readings. On the First Sunday of Advent, the Church begins a new year and we return to Cycle A for Sunday readings and Cycle II for weekday readings. Various dioceses celebrate Priesthood Sunday. today. What is that? Priesthood Sunday is a special day set aside to honor the ordained priesthood, a day to affirm the role of priests in the Catholic Church. For me personally, I ask for your continued prayers for us priests of the Archdiocese of New Orleans and especially for our shepherd and guide, Archbishop Gregory Aymond. Pray for our seminarians, and if you find yourself thinking that someone has a calling to priesthood, make it known to them and pray for them to have the courage to answer that call.
There is an old English idiom: “A picture is worth a thousand words.” So, what do you see in the attached picture? It reflects the two men in today’s Gospel parable.
The Pharisee reflects a certain look at me attitude with head unbowed – self-righteous and boasting by comparing himself to the crooked tax collector ... The tax collector keeps his distance and prays for God’s mercy.
Jesus uses this parable to teach us about prayer. We are all paupers when it comes to our relationship with God. Knowing we are poor before God is a healthy sign of our reliance on God for everything. We are not called to come to Church on Sunday and look down on those who no longer have faith. That would make us like the Pharisee in today’s Gospel parable. We cannot condemn those who have lost faith. It’s our challenge to live out our faith more deeply and in such a way that it will shine a light for those who live in darkness … We must walk the talk!
It’s interesting to note the contrast between the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee says: “God, I thank you that I am not like other people … I fast twice a week and I give a tenth of all my income.” In essence, he tells God what he deserves - full of himself and therefore a slight need for God. However, the tax collector stands at a distance unworthy to look up to heaven and asks God to have mercy on him as a sinner, and therefore a great need for God.
The meaning of the parable can be found in Jesus’ point: “For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted. The tax collector admits his sinfulness but the Pharisee thinks of himself as righteous because of all the things he has done. I’ll finish with these words: We are not Christians because we think we’re good. We are Christians because we know we’re not.