October 27, 2019 Sunday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time-C

Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18

Psalm 34

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

Luke 18:9-14

The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds… Sir. 35:16

“O God, be merciful to me a sinner.” Lk. 18:13

Lord, we have an expression: “pride goes before the fall.”  Pride blocks us from having a true sense of who we are before you.  The Pharisee was prideful in his prayer while the tax collector bared his soul.  The prayer of the Pharisee could hardly be called a prayer.  Rather he was patting himself on the back for being so “worthy”.  The sinful tax collector had become aware his many sins and begged you for your merciful forgiveness.  The Pharisee asked for praise while the tax collector gave it.  Lord, I admit that at times there is a little Pharisee in me.  I often expect to have your favor because I am, in my eyes, doing it all right.  But when I am honest with myself, I don’t deserve all the blessings you have poured into my life.  The Prodigal Son begged for his father’s forgiveness as does this tax collector.  Dear Jesus, give me a true repentance for all the times I have chosen the darkness of sin over the light of your mercy.   Please give me a heart that is humble enough to admit I am powerless to forgive myself and that I rely totally on your grace.  Amen.