October 26, 2025 - 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Today’s readings speak about humility before God. In the Gospel (Luke 18:9–14), Jesus shares a parable that cuts right to the heart of how we relate to God — and to one another. Two men go up to the temple to pray: one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. On the surface, the Pharisee appears righteous, praying aloud and thanking God that he is not like others: thieves, adulterers, or even like the tax collector beside him. He lists his religious practices — fasting and tithing — with confidence. Meanwhile, the tax collector stands at a distance, not daring to raise his eyes to heaven. His prayer is simple: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” Jesus delivers the unexpected conclusion: it is the tax collector — not the Pharisee — who goes home justified before God.

This parable challenges us to examine our hearts. Do we treat prayer as an opportunity to boost our ego or judge others? Or do we approach God with the humble recognition of our need for His mercy? The Pharisee’s mistake was not in his good actions, but in his pride. He relied on his own righteousness, forgetting that we are all in need of grace. The tax collector, though seen as sinful, opened his heart in humility. His simple prayer echoes one of the oldest prayers in the Christian tradition: “Lord, have mercy.”

As we move through Ordinary Time, let this Gospel remind us that God looks at the heart. He is not impressed by appearances, but by the honesty of our repentance and the sincerity of our love. May we always approach Him with humility, trusting not in our own goodness, but in His unending mercy.

In the first reading from the Book of Sirach we hear a powerful reminder about God’s attentiveness to the humble and the oppressed. The passage speaks of a God who is not deaf or indifferent to the cries of the poor or the pleas of the powerless. God’s justice is not based on human power or wealth but on genuine righteousness. This reading complements the Gospel by highlighting that it is the humble, the meek, and those who cry out with sincerity who receive God’s favorable attention.

The second reading from 2 Timothy brings a personal and hopeful tone to our reflection. Paul, near the end of his life, speaks of having fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. Despite his hardships and feelings of abandonment, he trusts completely in the Lord’s justice and mercy. This reading encourages us to persevere in faith with humility and courage, knowing that our efforts, even when unseen or misunderstood, are not in vain. Paul’s example reminds us that humility is not weakness but a confident reliance on God’s grace amid life’s struggles.

So when I pray, am I more like the Pharisee or the tax collector? What might God be inviting me to bring honestly before Him this week?

God bless everyone always!!!

Fr. Stan