30TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - YEAR C - Gospel (Luke 18:9-14) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
- NHA CHUA CHA
- Oct 26
- 4 min read
BÀI ĐỌC 1: Sir 35:12-14, 16-18
"He does not forsake the cry of the orphan."
First reading from the Book of Sirach
The LORD is a God of justice,
who knows no favorites.
Though not unduly partial toward the weak,
yet he hears the cry of the oppressed.
The Lord is not deaf to the wail of the orphan,
nor to the widow when she pours out her complaint.
The one who serves God willingly is heard;
his petition reaches the heavens.
The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds;
it does not rest till it reaches its goal,
nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds,
judges justly and affirms the right,
and the Lord will not delay.
SECOND READING - 2 Tim 4:6-8, 16-18
"From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me."
Second reading from the Letter to Timothy
6 [a]For I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 [b]I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. 8 [c]From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance. 16 At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Lk 18:9-14
"The latter went home justified, not the former."
✠From the Gospel according to Luke
9 He then addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. 10 “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. 11 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. 12 I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ 13 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.’ 14 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.”
30TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - YEAR C - Gospel (Luke 18:9-14)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear people of God,
Today's Word of God tells of two men who went up to the temple to pray: one was a Pharisee and the other was a sinful tax collector.
God is the One rich in mercy, patient, and loves humanity immensely; no one loves humanity as He does. That is why God always accompanies and is present with humanity in all places, at all times, and He knows the depth of every person's heart.
He knows whether that soul is pure and clean, or defiled and unclean.
Standing before God's holy and glorious Face, all sins are revealed, for no one is perfect, innocent, pure, or righteous before Him, except the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was granted by God the most exalted privilege, the grace of being conceived without original sin.
Therefore, God used two illustrative figures: on one side is the Pharisee, who considered himself righteous and good before God because he had fulfilled the law that God had given; and on the other side is the sinful tax collector, who, recognizing deep within his soul that he was unworthy before God, came to implore God’s mercy, saying, “O God, have mercy on my soul, for I am a sinner, unworthy and lowly before You.”
God makes known to humanity that all people are sinners before Him; we are wretched people who need God's mercy.
Never be proud or arrogant, do not consider yourself righteous, nor believe in being filled with God's grace and power, for such an attitude leads to pride and disregard for God's grace.
Therefore, today's Word of God invites everyone to:
Look at the image of the tax collector. We should beat our chests in repentance of our sins before God, trust and confide in God's mercy, and firmly resolve to abandon our sins.
God desires that each person acknowledge their sins and come to seek His mercy with a simple, humble, and contrite heart.
Avoid the attitude of the Pharisee, who considered himself righteous and good before God, observing the fulfillment of the law, yet neglecting God's law of love, which is to love God above all things, and to love your neighbor as yourself.
Be merciful to our fellow brothers and sisters; when we see them fall into sin or weakness, we must love them and help them rise again.
Never be proud, arrogant, or self-righteous, for Satan will take advantage of the opportunity to tempt our souls, leading us away from God and our brothers and sisters.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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