27 October 2019
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
In today’s Gospel Jesus gives me a sketch of two men at prayer. More clearly than words they enable me to see for myself who I am. How? I express who I am when I turn to the Lord in prayer.
He reproves the Pharisee, not because the man is generous, puts money into the collection; gives time to prayer, fasts, lives a moral life, but because he knew he was open-handed, prayerful, pure and abstemious, and condemned others who were not. He judges himself superior to others; has a hard time being thankful for the grace he has received for the simple reason he has never considered it to be a gift.
The prayer of the publican is simpler, more truthful. He has knowledge of who he is: a sinner. He does not take pleasure in who he is or what he has done. He has confidence in God who is so merciful. For this reason, Jesus said he is justified.
So, what’s the conclusion? To attain the attitude of the publican that Jesus gives in this example, it is necessary for me to learn how to pray like the publican.
There is no greater teacher of this type of prayer than the Holy Spirit who overshadowed the Blessed Virgin, making her the image of this, the one who brought Jesus to others: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to thy word.”
Conclusion: I shall ask Mary to obtain for me from the Holy Spirit the gift of her prayer.