30th Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

The Prayer of the Tax collector Lk. 18:9-14

Did you ever notice that people who gossip never gossip about themselves?

This is because they only notice the faults of others and not their own.

This is because their vision is always turned “outward” at others

And never “inward” towards themselves.

They are like the Pharisee who says,

“O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity.”

At the beginning of Mass however we look at ourselves.

We beat our breast and say……

“I confess to Almighty God that I have greatly sinned.”

For We are all tax collectors!

And that’s okay.

Because In the Gospel, Jesus welcomes tax collectors and sinners.

He never wags his finger or says “I told you so!”

He always forgives them and offers them a new beginning.

The only people Jesus ever gets angry with are the Pharisees.

Because they are Hypocrites.

They are quick to tell others what is wrong with them,

But never notice their own faults.

They are Blind Guides;

Unable to lead others because they cannot see themselves!

The Pharisees saw what was wrong with the world,

And wanted to change it.

They failed however to understand that

Change only comes when we look at ourselves.

See our own sins and mistakes

And say ‘O God be merciful to ME a sinner.”