BE HUMBLE WHEN YOU PRAY

Saturday of Third Week of Lent Year C Luke 18:9-14 What is the right way to approach God in prayer? In the gospel for today, two people went to the temple to pray but only one received the reward. Both of them pleaded for Divine favors but only one got the blessings. Three points that I would like to share. First, when we pray, we dont need to promote ourselves. Prayer is not about bragging. We dont need to flaunt our achievements and accomplishments. Prayer is not about our glory but His glory. The Pharisee went to the temple to praise himself, the Publican went to praise God. One is centered on God; the other is centered on himself. Proud people full of themselves while humble people full of God. Jesus cautions us against anything that elevates us or sets us apart from others. Second, when we pray try to avoid the litany of comparisons. The prayers of the Pharisee was not pleasing to God because he broadcast about his righteousness by comparing himself to the Publican. He thinks that he is better than others. In our Christian life, there are people who thinks that their holiness are superior to others. They think that their righteousness are the most ideal. They have convinced everyone that they are the epitome of righteousness. They think that they are the paragon of holiness and embodiment of virtue because they always attended church worship. Today, we are challenge to avoid the idea that we are better and superior than other people. Today’s Gospel is teaching us humility. Pray like the Publican, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” Prostrate before God, and asks for mercy. Finally, God rewards the humble and rejects the proud. Pride ends in a fall while humility brings honor. Remain humble in your prayer. Let your actions tell your story. St. Augustine once said: “It was pride that changed an angels into devils and its humility that makes men angels.” Blessings Fr. Jhack