Daily Readings - Sun Oct 23 2022

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

In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of humility, justice, and trust in God. The first reading from Sirach emphasizes God’s impartial justice, particularly toward the vulnerable. It reminds us that God hears the prayers of the oppressed and values humility over self-righteousness. This sets the stage for understanding that true faith is not about outward appearances but about a genuine relationship with God. The second reading from 2 Timothy reinforces this message through Paul’s testimony of perseverance and trust in God. Despite facing hardships, Paul remains steadfast, trusting in God’s justice and mercy. His confidence is not in his own achievements but in God’s faithfulness. This reading encourages us to remain loyal to our faith, even in challenging times, knowing that God’s justice will prevail. The Gospel parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector vividly illustrates the contrast between self-righteousness and humility. The Pharisee’s pride leads him to judge others, while the tax collector’s humility opens him to God’s mercy. Jesus teaches us that it is not our status or deeds that justify us, but our willingness to acknowledge our limitations and seek God’s forgiveness. These readings collectively call us to embrace humility and trust in God’s justice. In our daily lives, this means letting go of pride and judgment, and instead, cultivating a humble heart that seeks God’s mercy. By doing so, we align ourselves with God’s will, finding true justification and peace. Let us strive to live with humility and perseverance, trusting in God’s faithfulness and justice.