HOMILY FOR 30TH SUNDAY YEAR C

 HOMILY FOR 23 OCTOBER 2022 30TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C 

Sirach 35: 12-14, 16-18; Psalm 34: 2-3, 17-18, 19, 23; 2 Timothy 4: 6-8, 16-18; Luke 18: 9-14

THE TRUE ATTITUDE DURING PRAYER

I pray for you: May you humbly come before God and lift up a sincere prayer to God, acknowledging your need for the help of God. AMEN

I was struck when I read the following line from the Gospel of today: The Pharisee stood there and said this prayer to himself The phrase said this prayer to himself sends strong negative signal. The actual Greek words for the phrase to himself imply that he was not surrounded by anyone, that is, he was alone. But the particular English translation to himself can mean that, but it can also mean he prayed to himself. In a sense, the prayer of the Pharisee was a prayer to himself. He neither was in need the help of God nor was he praising God. He was praising himself and saying he was above everyone else and does not need the help of anyone, not even the help of God. Now, ask youself: When I pray, am I acknowledging my need for the help of God or am I praising myself for what achievements I think I have made? Am I really praying to, and praising God or praising myself? The Lord God hears the prayer of the humble-hearted.  

The First Reading reminds us that even though God plays no favorites, the Lord seems to be more attentive to those who humbly admit that they need the help of God. In the typical style of the Wisdom Books, the reading of today from Sirach states a truth which at first seems contradictory. He proclaims that God shows no partiality in answering prayer, but at the same time God always hears the humble prayer of those who cry out to God in need. The Lord God hears all authentic prayer.  God responds to all true prayers, maybe not exactly as they are presented, but in a way which is a true blessing for the one who prays. The Lord does not turn away from the sincere prayer of those who acknowledge their need before God, while those who selfishly request things from God do not always have their prayers answered, at least not in the way they want. The key to this paradoxical theme is in the attitude of the one who prays. Those who can honestly admit their need for the help of God will receive it, while those who only perfunctorily call upon God receive responses in proportion to their acknowledgment of the ability of God to help them.

The Responsorial psalm rephrases the theme in saying that The Lord hears the cry of the poor. The psalmist presents this same theme by pointing out that God confronts the evil doers while reaching out the divine hand to help those who seek God with sincere hearts. The Lord God hears the cry, that is, the pleading of those who know that God is the Only One Who can touch their lives with healing and well-being (salus).

In the second reading, from the second letter of Paul to Timothy, Paul reviews his ministry and humbly proclaims that he has finished the race and kept the faith, and he awaits God to bestow the crown of righteousness on him, even if others of the faithful people seemed to have deserted him. Paul concludes his pastoral letter to Timothy by reflecting on his ministry which is drawing to an end.  Paul has striven to do his best in what God has set him apart to do, which is, the announcing of the Good News to others. Paul has exerted himself just as a runner in a race pushes himself to the extreme in order to cross the finish line. Paul knows what awaits him when he crosses the line from this life to the next. He realizes that it is not his doing nor the help which he sometimes failed to receive from others. It is the Lord Jesus who has stood by him; giving him strength and who will ultimately receive all the glory and praise that is due for calling and urging Paul on to win the unfading crown of life.  

In the Gospel, Jesus shares the parable of two individuals who come into the presence of God to pray. Jesus remarks that the humble prayer of the tax collector is heard while the proud prayer of the Pharisees is not heard. According to Jesus, two individuals enter the Temple to pray. The first one is a Pharisee who boastfully sees himself better than all other people, especially better than the sinful tax collector. After all, the Pharisee publicly does everything by the letter of the law so that he can be admired for his righteousness. The Pharisee does not really need the help of God since he is already justified in his own mind. Yes, it would be nice if God would agree with him, but even that is not necessary. The tax collector on the other hand humbly and contritely admits that he is in need of the help and forgiveness of God. He is a sinner who needs the spiritual healing of God. He can honestly confess that he is not perfect and wants a better relationship with God.

Dear Sisters and Brothers, as I reflect on the readings, I am challenged to look at my own relationship with God, that is, my prayer life; and see what is my attitude when I enter the presence of the Lord Jesus through prayer. At times I have come with an attitude of superiority and self-righteousness. I have turned to God in prayer, hoping that God would pat me on the back and say, Great job! My attitude has been prideful. When I donate to the Church for the building of the house of God or even maintaining the house of God; or if my family takes care of buying diesel or fuel for the Church monthly; or if I am solely responsible for providing bulletin for the entire church for some years now; how arrongantly do I present it to people? Do I use all these I do for the Church to demand returns from the members of the Church both on what they suppose to do for me and what they do not suppose to do for me? When I contribute to the growth of the Church and assist the members of the Church, I do most times figure that I am doing God a favor by my turning to the Lord Jesus in prayer. I have been no better than the arrogant Pharisee in the parable. There have been other times when I have been knocked off my stand by physical or emotional or spiritual challenges. It is then that I have had to humbly come into the presence of God, acknowledging Who God is and how much I am in need of the help of God. It is often at those times that I sense a closeness in my relationship with God.  

Dearly beloved in Christ Jesus, the focus of prayer should be to admit our dependence on God. Yes, we should do all that we can do, with the help of God. However, even as we do our best, we must humbly admit that it is God who has empowered us, just as the Lord Jesus strengthened and provided for Paul throughout his ministry. Yes, we must all exert ourselves and run toward the finish line, always conscious that it is God who has equipped us with energy and ability to cross the line.  And if we fall as we run the race, it is important that we turn to the One who can help us back up and get us headed in the right direction. We must constantly keep in the front of our mind for whom we are running the race and who it is who makes it all possible.  It is then that we can give God all the praise, thanks, and glory as we echo the words of the psalmist today: The Lord redeems the lives of the servants of God; no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in the Lord.

MEDITATION What has been my attitude when I pray? Do I use the words I and me and mine more than I do You, Lord and Your divine will? How can I more humbly come into the presence of God, admitting my need for the help of God? In what part of the race am I at this point in my life and how can I keep the faith more fully as I run toward the finish line? Are there people who are running along with me that need words of encouragement as they struggle to keep going?  What can I do to show that I am concerned for them and that I am there for them, as a reminder that God is with them?

PRAYER Our Father and God, we thank You for sending to us Your Son, Jesus, as the Master, Teacher and Coach who has given us the example and continues to urge us on. We also thank You for the gifts that come from Your Holy Spirit, especially the gifts of humility, endurance, patience, and fortitude. May we continue to give You all the glory and honor as we draw ever nearer to You at the finish line. Through the same Christ Our Lord. AMEN  

O DIVINE WORD, WHO TOOK FLESH FOR HUMAN SAKE, REDEEM US IN OUR SITUATION

© Rev Fr Utazi Prince Marie Benignus