The gospel reading at mass today really spoke to me. Thought I'd share it for commentary here.

Luke 18:8-14

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

...But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" He then addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. "Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. 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. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.' 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.' 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."

In examining my conscience, I have to ask myself, am I like the Pharisee, thankful that I have faith in God and His Son, unlike most of humanity? Or am I like the tax collector who, realizing his sinfulness, in true humility prays, "God, be merciful to me a sinner." Am I arrogant in my faith and the good works I do because I have the truth of Christ? I pray that I am not. Even looking down upon the Pharisee in this story is not justified. I pray that God may have mercy on me, a sinner who deserves nothing less than damnation, except for Christ's sacrifice for me and for all sinners.

-- Andy S ("ask3332004@yahoo.com"), October 24, 2004

Answers

I pray God makes my heart more like the repentant tax collector in this parable.

-- Andy S ("ask3332004@yahoo.com"), October 24, 2004.

Of course we need to be thankful for all God has given us, including our faith. That is what I learned from the parable of the 10 lepers. But our attitude and motivation in gratitude needs to be humble, rather than lifting ourselves above others. It's what's inour hearts that matter. God knows our hearts better than we do.

-- Andy S ("ask3332004@yahoo.com"), October 24, 2004.

Amen, Andy. Thanks for sharing. Yes, that was a beautiful reading today and one of the things I love about the Catholic Church is we can go anywhere and the readings are from the same Scriptures. We both heard the same ones today and can thus reflect on them and I think that is beautiful.

I went to see the Therese movie today as it came to sort of near my area. It was so beautiful -- seeing her "little way" in action, and the repentant sinner's humility here reminds me of Therese. Sins that we would see as almost trivial, she felt strong remorse for.

For those not familiar with Saint Therese of Liseaux, her little way consisted in doing things for others that no one would know about. She did works of charity secretly and treated with kindness even those who showed hostility toward her. She did not seek to be acknowledged for what she did, but only to show Christ's love. Interestingly, after her death, the nuns she lived with were planning her funeral, and said something to the effect of, "She didn't really accomplish anything, so what will we say at the funeral?" Anyone who reads her autobiography _Story of a Soul_ (written by Therese with contributions from her sisters and the Mother Superior), however, will see otherwise. Her life is the embodiment of Christ's love and something that I need to learn from.

Just before the credits, a director's note said that Mother Teresa chose her name because when establishing her order, she wanted to follow Therese's "little way".

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), October 24, 2004.

I'm looking forward to seeing that movie Emily. I wish it had as much publicity as the Passion of the Christ. Her book gave me a whole new perspective on loving Christ and others. Thanks for sharing your experience seeing the movie.

-- Andy S ("ask3332004@yahoo.com"), October 24, 2004.

Psalm 34

Psa 34:2 In the Lord shall my soul be praised: let the meek hear and rejoice.

Psa 34:18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart: and he will save the humble of spirit.

Luke 1:46-52

Luk 1:46 And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord.

Luk 1:47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Luk 1:48 Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Luk 1:49 Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is his name.

Luk 1:50 And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.

Luk 1:51 He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

Luk 1:52 He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble.

-- Andy S ("ask3332004@yahoo.com"), October 25, 2004.

Proverbs 11:2 Where pride is, there also shall be reproach: but where humility is, there also is wisdom.

Phillipians 2:3 Let nothing be done through contention: neither by vain glory. But in humility, let each esteem others better than themselves:

Collosians 3:12-14

Put ye on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience: Bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if any have a complaint against another. Even as the Lord hath forgiven you, so do you also. But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection.

-- Andy S ("ask3332004@yahoo.com"), October 26, 2004.

And from the KJV deuteros:

Sirach 3:17-20

My son, go on with thy business in meekness; so shalt thou be beloved of him that is approved. The greater thou art, the more humble thyself, and thou shalt find favour before the Lord. Many are in high place, and of renown: but mysteries are revealed unto the meek. For the power of the Lord is great, and he is honoured of the lowly.

Sirach 18:20-24

Before judgment examine thyself, and in the day of visitation thou shalt find mercy. Humble thyself before thou be sick, and in the time of sins shew repentance. Let nothing hinder thee to pay thy vow in due time, and defer not until death to be justified. Before thou prayest, prepare thyself; and be not as one that tempteth the Lord. Think upon the wrath that shall be at the end, and the time of vengeance, when he shall turn away his face.

-- Andy S ("ask3332004@yahoo.com"), October 26, 2004.

nice thread Andy.

humility is at the heart of it, pride strikes at the heart of it.

to some people humility just seems to come "naturally" in everything [or most things] they do. not to me, unfortunately. so i **make myself** do acts of humility. i set a task and i try to follow up on it. it helps.

i am told that a Saint (except St Mary) is a sinner that never stops trying. that keeps me going. if at first you don't succeed, try and try again.

-- Ian (ib@vertifgo.com), October 26, 2004.

That's a great point of view Ian. I hadn't heard that description of a saint before. It makes a lot of sense and really is comforting.

I've always heard that the first sin was pride, both for Satan and for Adam. Humility seems to be the only cure.

-- Andy S ("ask3332004@yahoo.com"), October 26, 2004.

indeed Andy, did you know that after her death, it was revealed that Blessed Theresa of Calcutta had almost daily crises of faith?

i think of it this way: as she stared at the misery and wretched poverty thinking "Maybe there isn't a God because He would never allow this to exist", we all stared at this amazing tiny woman and thought "Only God could have created Mother Theresa".

she probably died assuming that she fell well short of the mark. we all look and wish we could do a small fraction of that good.

-- Ian (ib@vertifgo.com), October 27, 2004.

I had heard that recently Ian. Yet she persevered. That is truly inspiring.

Me thinks that really humble people don't even realize it and struggle daily with their faults.

-- Andy S ("ask3332004@yahoo.com"), October 27, 2004.