Humble prayer is a central theme throughout the Bible,

Humble prayer is a recognition of one's own limitations

and a deep reliance on God's mercy and grace.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18

The Lord

Is judge and shows no partiality. He will not disadvantage the poor, he who hears the prayer of the oppressed.

He does not disdain the plea of the orphan, nor the complaint of the widow.

 

The one who serves God wholeheartedly will be heard; his petition will reach the clouds.

The prayer of the humble person pierces the clouds, and he is not consoled until he has been heard.

His prayer will not cease until the Most High has looked down, until justice has been done in favor of the righteous.

 

Ps 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

As for me, I am already poured out as a libation, and the moment of my departure has come.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Now, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, with which the Lord, the just judge,

will reward me, on that day, and not only me, but all those who have longed for his glorious coming. 

 

At my first hearing in court, no one supported me; all deserted me.

May the Lord not hold it against them. But the Lord was at my side, giving me strength, to proclaim the word fully,

and let all the pagans hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.

The Lord will save me from all evil, bringing me to his heavenly kingdom. Glory to him for ever and ever. Amen!

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

 Luke 18:9-14

Jesus parable to some people, fully convinced of their own righteousness, who looked down on others:

"Two men went up to the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector.

The Pharisee stood by himself, and said, 'I thank you, God, that I am not like other people, grasping, crooked,

adulterous, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and give a tenth of all my income to the temple!

 

In the meantime, the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying,

'O God, be merciful to me, a sinner. I tell you, when this man went back to his house, he had been reconciled with God,

but not the other. For whoever makes himself out to be great will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be raised up."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

Lectio Divina

"Our prayer is to be honest and God-centered."

Read: Sirach teaches the importance of humble prayer. Saint Paul reflects on his faithful ministry and on eternal life.

Jesus preaches the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector.

 

Reflect: 'O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.' Eastern Christianity makes much use of the phrase of the tax collector.

His phrase is joined to the words of Saint Peter to become "Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

The "Jesus Prayer" is a simple, honest prayer, which acknowledges our sins, but always in conjunction with a humble petition for Christ's loving mercy.

Frequent repetition of the prayer allows us to think of our relationship with Christ and how it needs to be healed.

 

Unlike the Pharisee's prayer, which is self-congratulatory, the tax collector's prayer is honest and God-centered, and because of that,

he can see how he needs to change. Just as our prayer is to be honest and God-centered,

so our proclamation of the Kingdom in word and deed must reflect that honesty and divine focus.

We are a missionary Church, and our message will be far more effective if we adopt the tax collector's humble, authentic attitude.

 

Pray: Take some time today to pray the Jesus Prayer.

 

Act: After deeds of charity, reflect on how genuine your love has been.