Saturday of the Third Week
Reflection

Today, we read one of my favorite Gospel passages, Luke 18:9-14, which reminds us of God’s love and mercy. It also teaches us to be humble in what we do, and that “everyone who exalts himself with be humbled and everyone who is humble will be exalted.” Two men arrive at the temple, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee prays aloud that he is a holy man, one who fasts twice a week, and pays his taxes. The tax collector on the other hand, stands to the side and prays for God’s mercy, saying “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” Jesus then tells us that the tax collector went home justified while the other didn’t.

This calls us to look at our own lives and moments where maybe we have been less than humble. Are there moments when we forget the love that God has given us, and the blessings that we have been given along the way? Are there moments we have done something for praise rather than in gratitude for what God has given us? The tax collector had a hard job and knew his position in life, yet he asked God for mercy. He is humble enough to ask God to help him live the life that God asks all of us to live. Being humble is hard to do.  We all want to be successful, appear that we have our lives in order, and always do the right thing. We forget that God is the reason we are where we are. Like the tax collector, we might not live the most righteous life, but somehow, we all try to live out what God asks of us to do. For some who might relate to the Pharisee, we might need to take a step back and question if what we say we do for God is out of love for Him or for our own gain. Is it better to do everything that is asked of us, fasting, going to Mass, saying every prayer known to us, if we want to impress others and not of love for our Lord? To be humble is to recognize blessings in our lives and use those blessings to live how God asks us to live. Living out God’s call isn’t like a checklist. Instead, God asks us to love others as He loves us, to be kind to those who struggle, and to serve those around us. God tells us that “it is love that I desire, not sacrifice.”  (Hosea 6:6). We might do this by helping those around us, taking the time to thank God and pray, and above all, loving before judging. 

Prayer

God, help me to better live out Your call to serve and love others. May I learn to be humble like the tax collector and recognize when I am not being the disciple You have asked me to be and how I can best live my actions out of love for You and others around me. Let us all be grateful for the love we have in our lives and learn to use it to serve others. Amen, and blessed be.

Rada Ruggles, ’23

Scripture

First Reading: Hosea 6:1-6
Psalm 51:3-4, 18-21b
Gospel: Luke 18:9-14

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website