The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to take stock of the obstacles and distractions that lead us away from the humble piety and gratitude of being in a relationship with God.
The reading from the Prophet Hosea is a Call to Repentance in the face of impenitence of Israel and Judah.
* [6:2] After two days; on the third day: presumptuous Israel expects that soon God will renew them (cf. Ez 37).
* [6:5] The word of God proclaimed by the prophets is effective, it accomplished what it promised: punishment. (Hosea, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 51 is a prayer for Cleansing and Pardon.
* [Psalm 51] A lament, the most famous of the seven Penitential Psalms, prays for the removal of the personal and social disorders that sin has brought. The poem has two parts of approximately equal length: Ps 51:3–10 and Ps 51:11–19, and a conclusion in Ps 51:20–21. The two parts interlock by repetition of “blot out” in the first verse of each section (Ps 51:3, 11), of “wash (away)” just after the first verse of each section (Ps 51:4) and just before the last verse (Ps 51:9) of the first section, and of “heart,” “God,” and “spirit” in Ps 51:12, 19. The first part (Ps 51:3–10) asks deliverance from sin, not just a past act but its emotional, physical, and social consequences. The second part (Ps 51:11–19) seeks something more profound than wiping the slate clean: nearness to God, living by the spirit of God (Ps 51:12–13), like the relation between God and people described in Jer 31:33–34. Nearness to God brings joy and the authority to teach sinners (Ps 51:15–16). Such proclamation is better than offering sacrifice (Ps 51:17–19). The last two verses express the hope that God’s good will toward those who are cleansed and contrite will prompt him to look favorably on the acts of worship offered in the Jerusalem Temple (Ps 51:19 [20–21]). (Psalms, PSALM 51 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke 18.9-14 is the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax-Collector.
* [18:1–14] The particularly Lucan material in the travel narrative concludes with two parables on prayer. The first (Lk 18:1–8) teaches the disciples the need of persistent prayer so that they not fall victims to apostasy (Lk 18:8). The second (Lk 18:9–14) condemns the self-righteous, critical attitude of the Pharisee and teaches that the fundamental attitude of the Christian disciple must be the recognition of sinfulness and complete dependence on God’s graciousness. The second parable recalls the story of the pardoning of the sinful woman (Lk 7:36–50) where a similar contrast is presented between the critical attitude of the Pharisee Simon and the love shown by the pardoned sinner. (Luke, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB, n.d.)
Kimberly Grassmeyer comments that humility may be viewed in the behavior of our Gospel lesson's tax collector, while judgmental arrogance is seen in the behavior of the Pharisee.
The Pharisee's arrogance apparently blinds him to the truth that every child of God must face: we are all sinners. We have no way of knowing how God sees one sin's value against another, and this parable makes clear that God will exalt that sinner who will humble herself to speak her truth. It is the humility of the tax collector, and our own humility in acknowledging our flaws and sins as well as our gifts and talents, that God will reward.
We are learning, growing, developing creatures that become ever-more wise, increasingly compassionate, and better models of Christ's teachings NOT when we lord ourselves over, or judge and condemn others, but when we focus inward and take true inventory of ourselves; when we honestly and with great humility stand before our God, as did the tax collector, to acknowledge that we are not worthy of - have not earned - God's mercy, but get to receive it anyway. (Grassmeyer, 2024)
Don Schwager quotes “God's mercy is our only hope,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Driven out of paradise by You and exiled in a distant land, I cannot return by myself unless You, O Lord, come to meet me in my wandering. My return is based on hope in your mercy during all of my earthly life. My only hope, the only source of confidence, and the only solid promise is your mercy." (excerpt from Commentary on Psalm 24,5) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 18:9-14 comments that when we come to pray, Jesus wants us neither to brag about our efforts and achievements nor to wallow in our failures and shortcomings. Both attitudes fix our attention on ourselves rather than on God, the One we approach in prayer. Instead, like that tax collector, we can simply acknowledge our sins and our profound need for God’s mercy and then move forward confidently, counting on his grace.
When you pray today, make sure you focus your attention on God rather than on yourself. It might help if you start off with some short declarations about him. Today’s responsorial psalm gives you a few to begin with: You, Lord, are merciful (51:3). You are compassionate (51:3). You are bountiful (51:20). You are kind (51:20). With your gaze fixed on the Lord, your prayer will always be on the right footing!
“O God, thank you for your amazing love and mercy.” (Meditation on Luke 18:9-14, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the fickle nature of the piety of the people addressed by the Prophet Hosea. New Testament authors see how the intervention of God after three days resonates with Jesus' Resurrection. Friar Jude cites the reconciliation of the tax collector to remind us that our contrition in Confession must recognize how our sins have damaged our hearts and the world.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces mindfulness teacher Susan Bauer-Wu who invites us into a way of praying with and for the Earth.
Notice your incoming breath—the air entering your nostrils, your mouth, filling up your belly…. Every aspect of you right now, the air that fills your lungs, the clothes that you wear, the food you ate today, all of that comes from outside of you. This ever-present, life-encompassing, compassionate Earth sustains you. You are part of this effortless cycle of give-and-take. You are participating in an exchange with the elements, with other living beings, with the Earth herself. With each inhale, breathe in the Earth’s compassion and with each exhale, breathe out gratitude.
Relax here in this indivisible connection with all that surrounds you; breathe in compassion, and breathe out gratitude. (Rohr, 2017)
We invoke the Holy Spirit to lead us through our focus on self to the contemplation and action that energises our awareness of humility as the attitude that generates gratitude.
References
Grassmeyer, K. (2024, March 9). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved March 9, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/030924.html
Hosea, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 9, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hosea/6
Luke, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 9, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/18?9
Meditation on Luke 18:9-14. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved March 9, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/03/09/909489/
Psalms, PSALM 51 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 9, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/51?3
Rohr, R. (2017, November 9). The Soul of Nature: Weekly Summary. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved March 9, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-soul-of-nature-weekly-summary/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). God, Be Merciful to Me a Sinner! Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 9, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=mar9
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