MY daily reflection and prayer:
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear my friends,
Here is the Gospel for us today according to St. Luke 18:9-14
Jesus then 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 the 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.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
***
ONE of the important thing we can ask based on the Gospel today is to have the humility of the tax collector. The attitude of the tax collector is completely different with the Pharisee.
In his prayer, instead of focusing on his own goodness, he focuses on his own sinfulness. He humbly asks God to forgive it.
Actually, this is the correct attitude to have before God. Asking his forgiveness expresses humility. We trust in God’s mercy. If God forgives our sins, then we have nothing to worry about.
In the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist while adoring Jesus Christ, we pray humbly saying, “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.” Which is our attitude? Do we focus more on our good works or more on our failings? Do we humbly ask his mercy? Do we think ourselves better than others?
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus Christ, help us to be aware of and truly sorry for our sins. Help us to be mindful that good works are worthless without the right attitude of humbly seeking forgiveness. Oh the Son of God, be merciful to us the sinners now and forever. Amen.
Kredit foto: Ilustrasi (Ist)
