Daily Readings - Sun Oct 27 2019

¹⁵And do not be willing to consider an unjust sacrifice. For the Lord is the judge, and with him there is no favoritism toward anyone¹⁶The Lord will not accept favoritism against the poor, but he will heed the prayer of one who has been harmed¹⁷He will not despise the prayers of the orphan, nor of the widow, if she utters a lamenting complaint²⁰Whoever adores God with joy will be accepted, and his prayer will reach even to the clouds²¹The prayer of one who humbles himself will pierce the clouds. And it will not be consoled until it draws near; and it will not withdraw until the Most High beholds²²And the Lord will not delay, and he will judge for those who are just, and he will accomplish judgment. And the Almighty will not have patience with them, so that he may crush their back

2 Timothy

Chapter 4

⁶For I am already being worn away, and the time of my dissolution presses close⁷I have fought the good fight. I have completed the course. I have preserved the faith⁸As for the remainder, a crown of justice has been reserved for me, one which the Lord, the just judge, will render to me in that day, and not only to me, but also to those who look forward to his return. Hurry to return to me soon¹⁶At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them¹⁷But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the preaching would be accomplished, and so that all the Gentiles would hear. And I was freed from the mouth of the lion¹⁸The Lord has freed me from every evil work, and he will accomplish salvation by his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen

Luke

Chapter 18

⁹Now about certain persons who consider themselves to be just, while disdaining others, he told also this parable¹⁰"Two men ascended to the temple, in order to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector¹¹Standing, the Pharisee prayed within himself in this way: ‘O God, I give thanks to you that I am not like the rest of men: robbers, unjust, adulterers, even as this tax collector chooses to be¹²I fast twice between Sabbaths. I give tithes from all that I possess.¹³And the tax collector, standing at a distance, was not willing to even lift up his eyes to heaven. But he struck his chest, saying: ‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.¹⁴I say to you, this one descended to his house justified, but not the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled; and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of justice, humility, and trust in God’s providence. In the first reading from Sirach, we hear that the Lord is a just judge who shows no favoritism, hearing the prayers of the oppressed, the widow, and the orphan. This passage emphasizes that true justice is not about outward appearances or social status but about being attentive to the marginalized and the humble. The second reading from 2 Timothy offers a personal reflection from St. Paul, who, nearing the end of his life, expresses confidence in God’s judgment and salvation. Despite being abandoned by others, Paul trusts that the Lord will deliver him and bring his mission to completion. Finally, the Gospel parable contrasts the Pharisee, who prays with self-righteousness, and the tax collector, who humbly acknowledges his sinfulness. Jesus makes it clear that it is the humble who are justified, not those who exalt themselves. These readings are deeply connected, as they all point to the importance of humility and trust in God’s justice. Sirach reminds us that God’s justice is not about human standards but about caring for the vulnerable. Paul’s letter shows us how to trust in God’s plan even in difficult circumstances. The Gospel, meanwhile, teaches us that true righteousness is not about comparing ourselves to others but about recognizing our own limitations and turning to God with humility. Together, these readings call us to examine our own attitudes and actions, to let go of pride and self-reliance, and to place our hope in God’s mercy and justice. In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to cultivate humility and compassion. We are called to recognize the dignity of all people, especially those who are often overlooked or marginalized. We are also reminded to trust in God’s plan, even when things seem uncertain or difficult. Let us approach prayer with the tax collector’s humility, acknowledging our sins and asking for mercy. Let us also strive to live with integrity, knowing that God sees the heart and will judge us according to our love and compassion for others. May we, like Paul, place our trust in the Lord, who will bring us to eternal life, and may we always remember that true greatness lies in humility and service to others.