March 13, 2010 - Saturday of the Third Week of Lent

Hos 6:1-6 * Ps 51 * Lk 18:9-14  

THE PARABLE OF THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX COLLECTOR

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 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."

 

THE PRAYER OF PRIDE

W e say that prayer is talking with God and that is what the Pharisee did. His problem was that he had only one topic - himself. He talked to God but he did not praise God; he did not tell God how wonderful God is. He told God about his own goodness but he did not thank God for the gifts by which he was able to observe the laws in which he took so much pride. Man's great achievement is to give glory to God as much as it is man's great opportunity to rejoice in God. We ask for so much in prayer and we keep on asking for more. Do we thank God for the gifts that he continues to give us? Let us praise the Lord, and give him thanks.

(Taken from Daily Gospel Now by Robert E. Sullivan,OMI, published by Paulines. Visit us at www.paulines.ph or at Paulines Media Centers.)

 

Sower’s Thought: "We have an easy and sure way to bring the world to Jesus Christ. It is to pass by Mary's way. Those who go to Mary will find Jesus." - Blessed James Alberione, Founder of the Pauline Family