10-23-22 - 30th Sunday OT - Fr. Leo Schneider

30th Sunday - Fr. Leo

In the Second Eucharistic Prayer, there is a stanza that prays that we may come to the fullness of Charity with our Pope, our Archbishop and all the Clergy.  It would be good to add, ‘and all who seek you with a sincere heart.”  This would reflect the message of today’s gospel,  Luke give us the parable of two men praying in the temple. The contrast between the two is what teaches us the mind of the Lord.

The first man, a devout Pharisee, prays in thanks giving about how blessed he is and all he has done to serve his God.  It is more a praise of himself than what God has done in his heart.  If his prayer was sincere, would he have had such blind arrogance before God?  

By contrast, the second man, a confessed sinner, begs for mercy.  He is sincere in his prayer and knows that he cannot save himself, only the Lord in his love and mercy can heal him.  Jesus tells us that he is the humble man of sincere heart that leaves justified.

When we are sincere in life and humble, we know that we are not, and can not be, perfect as our heavily father is perfect.  We know that it is okay to be where we are because God loves us unconditionally and in time, with our willingness, will fashion us in his image through the grace of his transforming Spirit.  As Jesus was transformed on the mount, so he desires that we be transformed and come to share in the fullness of his divinity, and the door to that grace is gratitude, humility and sincerity of heart.  

Our celebrating Eucharist together is more real when we pray together with the humble humility of a sinner. It is then that the Lord can and will raise us up to share in the fullness of his life now and forever.  May God bless us all with his humbleness, and may we become humble blessings to others.  Amen.