“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’” – Luke 18:13

During the penitential rite at Mass, I am guilty of saying in an almost mechanical way, “I confess to Almighty God… I have greatly sinned… through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.” I strike my breast at the same time, just because the revised Roman Missal says so.

       Embarrassing as it is to admit, it can be difficult to acknowledge my own sinfulness. It is easier to identify the sins of others rather than recognize my own. It is less painful to judge others’ shortcomings rather than admit that I have hurt God. I turn the condescending spotlight on others in order to keep it away from myself. I get arrogant enough to think that, for as long as I’m not as bad as “them,” then I’m good with God.

       Truth is, all of us are sinners. All of us need God’s mercy and forgiveness. He invites us to be truthful and to humble ourselves. He will give us the grace to  acknowledge our sins if we ask. Kitty D. Ferreria (kittydulay@yahoo.com)

Reflection: When you say the penitential rite at Mass, do you mean what you say?

Blessed Ludovico of Casoria, pray for us.

Hosea reminds us that we should strive to know the Lord. This is the right focus for our lives — the Lord Himself and knowledge of Him. If we truly know the Lord, then it is difficult to see how we can allow sin into our lives. Knowing the Lord means that we understand that He is a compassionate and loving God who is always ready to welcome us back when we repent of our sins.

1 “Come, let us return to the Lord, it is he who has rent, but he will heal us; he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds. 2 He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, to live in his presence. 3 Let us know, let us strive to know the Lord; as certain as the dawn is his coming, and his judgment shines forth like the light of day! He will come to us like the rain, like spring rain that waters the earth.” 4 What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your piety is like a morning cloud, like the dew that early passes away. 5 For this reason I smote them through the prophets, I slew them by the words of my mouth; 6 for it is love that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

R: It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.

1 [3] Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. 2 [4] Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. (R) 16 [18] For you are not pleased with sacrifices; should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it. 17 [19] My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. (R) 18 [20] Be bountiful, O Lord, to Zion in your kindness by rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem; 19 [21] then shall you be pleased with due sacrifices, burnt offerings and holocausts. (R)

Personally achieved righteousness will not gain us access to the Kingdom of God. If we rely upon what we can do on our own strength, we will never enter the Kingdom of God. The nature of sin and the damage it causes means that we are left in the situation whereby we need a “key” to enter heaven. That key is offered to us by Jesus through faith in His death and resurrection.

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

9 Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. 10 “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. 11 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. 12 I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ 13 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.’ 14 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.”

think: Knowing the Lord means that we understand that He is a compassionate and loving God.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Exodus 1-3 

THE PRAYER GOD HEARS

A Pharisee and a tax collector went to the temple to pray. God was pleased with the prayer of the tax collector. The prayer of the Pharisee was rejected. Although the Pharisee began with, “O God, I thank you…,” the rest of his prayer was a self-congratulatory litany of his accomplishments. The tax collector, on the other hand, could not boast of even a single virtue. He could only mutter as he beat his breast with head bowed, “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” And yet, the Gospel concluded by saying that he went home justified.

       First, we catch God’s attention when we do things with sincerity. Sincerity comes from two Latin words: sine (without) and cera (wax). Literally, sincere means without wax. In ancient times, actors who performed on big stages wore masks made of wax to project to a large audience the emotions they want to portray. To be sincere then is to be without wax, or masks.

       Secondly, we catch God’s attention when we do things in humility. Humility is neither self-deprecation nor self-hate. We are not being humble when we ignore our gifts and talents. That is false humility at best. At worst, it is wallowing in low self-esteem. There is a thin line separating pride and humility. Both begin with an acknowledgment of one’s gifts and talents. But this self-knowledge becomes pride when it is done in a spirit of isolation. Look at the Pharisee in the Gospel. He knew his gifts and virtues but he saw them in a spirit of isolation, “I thank you because I am not like the rest of humanity.” His gifts isolated him from the community. This engenders pride and arrogance. But when done in a spirit of communion, self-knowledge breeds humility and gratitude. To acknowledge one’s gifts and talents in a spirit of communion means to place one’s giftedness at the service of the common good. That way, one can never be proud because one begins to see himself as a servant. And service is kindred to humility. Fr. Joel Jason

REFLECTION QUESTION: It is said that sincere people are humble but not servile. Are you enjoying the freedom of the sincere or the slavery of the proud and self-conscious?