Readings: Eccles. 35:12-14, 16-19, Ps. 34:2-3,17-19,23, 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18, Luke 18:9-14
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14)
Today, our readings teach us some essential dimensions of effective prayer.
1. God Never Ignores the Prayer of the Poor and Oppressed
As the book of Sirach says: “He (God) will not show partiality in the case of a poor man, and he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged. He will not ignore the supplication of the fatherless, nor the widow when she pours out her story.” (Sirach 35:13-14). No matter what you may be going through right now, remember that God cares and He always listens to the cries of the poor and oppressed. When you cannot fight with your hands, call on God with all your heart. As our Psalmist sings today: “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted; those whose spirit is crushed he will save.” (Psalm 34:18)
2. Prayer Demands an Attitude of Humility: Avoid Commanding God
Again, from our first reading, we learn that: “He whose service is pleasing to the Lord will be accepted… The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds…” (Sirach 35:16-17). When we pray, we must always assume the attitude of servants begging, not as masters giving orders. As the book of Proverbs teaches us: “The Lord tears down the house of the proud, but maintains the widow’s boundaries.” (Proverbs 15:25). In Mary’s Magnificat, she explains how God works saying: “He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree.” (Luke 1:51-52).
3. Prayer Demands Examination of Conscience
In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus gave us a parable of two men who went to the temple to pray. The Pharisee’s prayer was not only an exercise in self-praise, but it was also vindictive of others. As Jesus explains, this Pharisee ended up “praying with himself.” In other words, because of his pride and vindictiveness, his prayers did not go up to heaven.
When the tax collector approached the Temple, he stood far off (like the prodigal Son at the gate of the Father, scared of entering the house), he couldn’t even lift his eyes to heaven but beat his breast (as we do during the “I Confess” at Mass), saying “God, be merciful to me a sinner.” Jesus tells us that this man went home justified. The time of prayer is not the time to boast; it is rather a time to look inwards, a time to search deep and beg for God’s mercy.
4. The Christian Life is a Fight and a Race: Prayer Keeps us Going
Our final lesson today comes from our second reading. We hear St. Paul saying: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” In other words, the Christian life is not easy. Jesus himself says, “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:14). The Christian life is a real battle, a battle against the forces of darkness, principalities, powers and the devil who comes to steal, kill and destroy.
The Christian life is also a race, one that requires constant training and constant self-discipline, as Paul would say: “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things…. I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:25-27). St. Paul went on to say that his success did not come from his own strength but from God’s help. He says: “The Lord stood by me and gave me the strength to proclaim the word fully…”
Prayer is our direct connection to God. It is our source of grace and power. Without prayer, we cannot fight, and we cannot run the race before us. As the saying goes, a prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian.
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, increase our faith, hope and charity, and make us love what you command, so that we may merit what you promise. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (30th Sunday in Ordinary Time Liturgical Colour: Green. Bible Study: Eccles. 35:12-14, 16-19, Ps. 34:2-3,17-19,23, 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18, Luke 18:9-14)
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu