18 March, 2023 | Saturday of the Third Week of Lent

 Gospel : Lk 18:9-14 

Jesus addressed this parable

to those who were convinced of their own righteousness

and despised everyone else.

“Two people went up to the temple area to pray;

one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.

The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,

‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — 

greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector.

I fast twice a week,

and I pay tithes on my whole income.’

But the tax collector stood off at a distance

and would not even raise his eyes to heaven

but beat his breast and prayed,

‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’

I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;

for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,

and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Reflections: 

The parable in today’s gospel relates to the nature of prayer and of our relationship with God. Jesus is telling us that it is not so much the words we use in our prayer that matters but the attitude of heart with which we pray. The gospel reminds us that true humility enables us to see ourselves as we really are in God’s eyes and makes us seek God’s help and mercy. God is waiting for our return, to come home to him, i.e., that is accepting who I am, my strengths and limitations. It needs humility to discover the truth about oneself. 

Activity

Practice the virtue of humility in a small way. Humble yourself before God and ask for his mercy and show mercy to others especially those you find hard to love and forgive.