First Reading Sirach 35:12-14,16-18
God hears the prayer of the poor.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 34:2-3,17-18,19, 23
The Lord hears and answers the cry of the poor.
Second Reading 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18
Paul perseveres in faith, confident that God will rescue him.
Gospel Reading
Luke 18:9-14
Jesus draws a blunt picture in today’s Gospel. The Pharisee’s prayer is almost a parody of the thanksgiving psalms (see for example Psalms 30,118). Instead of praising God for His mighty works, the Pharisee congratulates himself for his own deeds, which he presents to God in some detail. The tax collector stands at a distance, too ashamed even to raise his eyes to God (see Ezra 9:6). He prays with a humble and contrite heart (see Psalm 51:19). He knows that before God no one is righteous, no one has cause to boast (see Roman 3:10; 4:2). We see in the Liturgy today one of Scripture’s abiding themes - that God “knows no favorites,” as today’s First Reading tells us (see 2 Chronicles 19:7; Acts 10:34-35; Romans 2:11). God cannot be bribed (see Deuteronomy 10:17). We cannot curry favor with Him or impress Him - even with our good deeds or our faithful observance of religious duties such as tithing and fasting. If we try to exalt ourselves before the Lord, as the Pharisee does, we will be brought low (see Luke 1:52). This should be a warning to us - not to take pride in our piety, not to slip into the self-righteousness of thinking that we’re better than others, that we’re “not like the rest of sinful humanity.” If we clothe ourselves with humility (see 1 Peter 5:5-6) - recognize that all of us are sinners in need of His mercy - we will be exalted (see Proverbs 29:33). The prayer of the lowly, the humble, pierces the clouds. Paul testifies to this in today’s Epistle, as He thanks the Lord for giving him strength during his imprisonment. Paul tells us what the Psalmist sings today - that the Lord redeems the lives of His humble servants. We too must serve Him willingly. And He will hear us in our distress, deliver us from evil, and bring us safely to His heavenly kingdom.
February 28 - Second Sunday of Lent : Rhythms of Ecstasy and Agony
February 21 - First Sunday of Lent: Renounce Satan with the power of the Word of God
Lent 2021 - An Introduction
February 15 - Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
February 7 - Fifth Sunday of ordinary time Year B
January 31 - Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time v- Year B
January 24 - Third Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B
January 17 - Second Sunday in ordinary time year B - This is the Lamb of God
January 10 - The feast of the Baptism of the Lord
January 3 - The Feast of Epiphany
January 1 - Solemnity of Mother of God
December 27 - The Fiesta of Holy Family
December 25 - Nativity of our Lord
December 20 - Fourth Sunday in Advent
December 13 - Third Sunday of Advent Year B
December 6 - Second Sunday of Advent Year B
November 29 - First Sunday of Advent Year B
November 22 - The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King (Thirty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time), Cycle A
November 15 - Thirty Third Sunday in ordinary time Year : A
November 8 - Thirty Second Sunday in ordinary time Year : A
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