The Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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 whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

We should never allow ourselves to be convinced of our own righteousness. All of us are sinners is some shape, form, or fashion. So of us are prideful, others envious, still more wrathful. Some are lustful, greedy, slothful, or gluttonous. As such, we should never see ourselves as better than others. This does not mean condoning other people's sins, but rather to remember that we are all in need of God's Mercy and as such we should act compassionately toward each other. Part of acting compassionately is pointing out when someone is doing something wrong and trying to help them do what is right. It doesn't matter how many "good" works we do if we do not do them with loving hearts and for the right reasons. It should be our aim in life to recognize our sinfulness, humbly ask for God's Mercy, and then try to amend our faults, great and small, so we can do God's Will more faithfully.

Do we believe we are better than certain people? How can we learn to be more humble and to remember we are sinners, too? Do we call out for God's Mercy with humble and contrite hearts?

O Lord, be merciful to us sinners.

Amen.