Faithfulness in Prayer: 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon by Emmanuel Suntheni OSB – Thirtieth Sunday In Ordinary Time – Year C
Sermon And Christian Act In The Word
Theme: A Pharisee or a tax-collector? Faithfulness in Prayer! Pay with an honest heart, not comparing! Am I a Pharisee or a Tax collector in prayer? We cannot bribe God with our sweet talk!
Point of Reflection: How do I pray in my Christian life? How do I talk to God? Am I a Pharisee or a Tax Collector in prayer? Today’s liturgy invites us to pray to God with an honest heart, not comparing our lives with others. Our fortunes and riches must be a blessing to others, not a curse. Our lives must reflect the right choices.
First Reading: Sirach 35:12–14, 16–18
Psalm: Psalm 34:2–3, 17–19, 23
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 4:6–8, 16–18
Gospel: Luke 18:9–14
Sermon (Reflection): The Gospel reading of today presents the story of a Pharisee and a tax collector, which contains a critique of those who “trusted in themselves that they were righteous”. Righteousness refers to the right relationship with God and others, and the story serves to show how such a right relationship might be developed. Am I righteous before God or human beings? How do I talk to God? In the Gospel of today, we encounter two men in prayer talking to God: the Pharisee and the tax-collector. Are you a Pharisee or a tax-collector or both?
First, the Pharisee stands before God, thanking him for being different from sinners and the tax collector standing nearby. Such individuals would not be in the right relationship with God because of their sins. The Pharisee then indicates what he thinks makes his relationship with God right. He mentions fasting and tithes, which were required by the Law. Clearly, he relies on the observance of the Law for maintaining his good relationship with God. In his prayer, he asks God for nothing. He does not seem to need anything from God. It appears that he came to the Temple to merely inform God that he is righteous because of what he does. His righteousness relies on his own deeds. As a person, are you not doing the same? Are you not thinking that you are the only righteous person and you have nothing to ask God but just telling him your righteousness?
Second, the tax collector is the exact opposite of the Pharisee. As a part of an inherently abusive and oppressive system of tax collection, he was certainly a sinner, which he readily admits. He has nothing to rely upon as far as his own actions and moral standing go. He knows that his lifestyle is inherently wrong and isolates him from God and his fellow Israelites. Therefore, he stands far off, beating his breast and begging God for mercy. Biblically, mercy is always about restoration. He prays that God may restore him to the right relationship with himself. As Christians, we need to always ask for mercy, nothing else. Just acknowledge that in one way or another, we sin, but we need mercy.
Jesus concludes the story with a surprising statement. The sinner rather than the Law-observing Pharisee went home “justified”. The Greek word used is better translated as “made righteous”. The tax collector, because of his unassuming plea for mercy, entered into the right relationship with God. The point of the story now becomes clear. The right relationship with God does not rely on one’s own actions and merits. These are important, but they come in second place. That is, no one can force God into a relationship by doing certain things and claiming the reward for them. The Pharisee thought just that, informing God about his accomplishments and feeling entitled to receive God’s favour.
The Tax collector had no merits. He pleaded for restoration, relying only on God’s grace to be accepted into God’s presence. Jesus teaches that this is the correct attitude when it comes to building one’s relationship with God. No one can force God to show grace and love. It comes to those who, like the tax collector, humbly accept their complete dependence on God. Such an attitude makes the bond with God flourish and grow, while the overconfidence and pretentious attitude of the Pharisees disrupts it. We do not know whether the tax collector changed his life. But he certainly made the first and essential step towards conversion, which is the point of the story.
In the first reading of today, Sirach taught that a wise life is shaped by obedience to God’s Law, which leads to prosperity and success. This made some think that misfortune and poverty are a result of violating God’s Law and sins. Logically, the poor and the unfortunate must have sinned and suffer the consequences of their misdeeds. Conversely, the wealthy and the successful must be righteous, and their high status reflects God’s approval of their pious living. Sirach firmly opposes such simplistic views and writes to remove false presuppositions about wealth and poverty.
The core message of the passage rests in the affirmation of God’s impartiality in judgment. God’s favour rests on those whose “service is pleasing to the Lord”, regardless of whether they are rich or poor. Uprightness and sinfulness cannot be established on the grounds of one’s economic status or social position, but on how one serves God. As Christians, we have only one duty, thus, to stand firm and only please God, not human beings and the wealthy of today. By doing so, we will pray to God with an honest heart, not comparing.
The second scriptural reading of today contains a moving statement, written by Paul not long before his death. Looking back at his life, Paul had the full confidence of having successfully accomplished his apostolic task. He described it as an athletic contest – fighting a good fight and finishing the race. As a winner, he will wear “the crown of righteousness”, just as ancient athletes wore laurel wreaths as symbols of victory. Paul had completed his work and kept the faith. Facing death, he was fully confident of the prospect of eternal life with Jesus because he had served him for long years with utter commitment and in an exemplary manner.
As Christians, are we keeping our faith? How do we keep our faith? It is only through an honest prayer. Let us pray that in our Christian life, we live an honest life and pray with an honest heart.
Christian Act in Word of God: “I will pray with an honest heart”
Our personal reflection today is rooted in the fact that God cannot be bribed with our sweet words. God can never be bribed by our achievements. Paul discovered this truth on his journey of Christian faith. He observed that all his human achievements could be likened to filth in comparison with the righteousness that comes from God based on faith – faith in Christ. With this new understanding to spur him on, he fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith. His very life was poured out like a libation, and he looked forward to the crown of righteousness reserved for him.
Nowadays, different people rely on different things as crutches to help them stand. For some, academic laurels give them a sense of importance. Others rely on their positions in the Church or Society at large. Some take consolation in their material riches. Unfortunately, these crutches, although they appear reliable, are, in reality, feeble straws. They cannot withstand strong winds. In essence, certain things in life are way beyond our human efforts. We can only receive them as gifts. Such is righteousness. It is not achieved by an act of self-will independent of God’s grace. It is a divine gift that matures in the heart of faith.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to rely on Christ, and Christ will never disappoint us. The only way to rely on Christ is through an honest prayer. Let us pray with an honest heart, not comparing our lives with others.
Action: I will be honest in my prayers, not comparing myself with other people’s weaknesses.
Prayer: Eternal Father, rescue us from the self-enslavement of self-deception that we are better persons than others. Deliver us from the pride of feeling righteousness and for not acknowledging our sins and asking for mercy. Almighty God, open our hearts to be honest in our prayers and always remember that God knows us by our hearts and actions, not the words we speak to please him. Help us to always be honest, and above all, bestow on us your gift of righteousness. We ask this through Christ, our Lord, Amen.
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