Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Humble prayer is what Jesus says helps to build the right relationship with God, in which we are open to his gifts.

Gospel according to Luke 18:9-14

Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and regarded others with contempt: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people, thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ “But the tax collector, standing off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “god, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ “I tell you; this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Reflections

In today’s Gospel, we find Jesus on the road to Jerusalem. He continues to teach about prayer. Previously, we heard about the importance of gratitude and thankfulness, as well as perseverance in prayer. Today, Jesus emphasizes the need for mercy and humility.

“Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” — cried the ten lepers who approached Jesus, and he healed them (Luke 17:13). The one who came back to Jesus, prostrated himself before him and thanked him. This man’s well-being has been fully restored, thanks to his faith. Such dynamic, active, and living faith is what Jesus emphasizes is relevant when we pray. (1) He illustrates this point through a parable of contrasting two ways of praying: one that thanks God, but is proud and believes in the self, and the other which is humble and places the self in the care of the Lord. 

Two men went up to the temple to pray, said Jesus, one was a Pharisee, and one was a tax collector. The Pharisee was considered law abiding, an example of religious zeal and purity. The tax collector was considered a sinner and a traitor because he collected taxes for the Roman occupiers. (1) Entering the same space, the temple, which represents the face of God and the presence of God, the tax collector remained standing and started his prayer with thanksgiving to God. He gave thanks to God for being righteous and for fulfilling all his obligations under the law: fasting twice a week and giving a tithe of his income. Most of all, however, the pharisee emphasized “being not like other people,” who are “thieves, rogues, adulterers…” (Luke 18:11). The Pharisee praised himself in front of God and despised other people, whom he judged based on a prejudice: “[sinners] like this tax collector.” (Luke 18:11).

By setting himself part and denying his sinfulness, shortcomings and faults as human being, the Pharisee cut himself off from requiring God’s mercy and forgiveness. (1) Pride prevented him from benefiting from being included in God’s plan of redemption.

In the meanwhile, continued Jesus, the tax collector, “Standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast” and repeat: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’” Luke 18:12-13). This man humbled himself in front of God and recognized his littleness. He pleaded for God’s help and recognized that he alone was not strong enough to save himself.

With this parable Jesus wanted to illustrate that knowing and following the law and the commandments are important but not sufficient for building a relationship with God. Building a trusting relationship requires one to ask for mercy and forgiveness. When speaking with God, it is a good practice to reflect on our actions and to recognize how much we depend on God for strength. The admission of our fragility and vulnerability, and even shortcomings by omission or commission, in other words, sinfulness, is not a weakness, but a virtue that God values and honors. It is the starting point for invoking His help. 

At the start of the Mass, which is the most perfect form of a ritual prayer in community, we recall our shortcomings and ask the Lord for pardon and forgiveness (“Kyrie, Eleison!”; 2). It is a profound gesture where we bow our head and touch our breast, admitting out transgressions for which we ask the Lord’s pardon. In this way we prepare ourselves for celebrating the sacrifice of the Mass in which Jesus offers himself in the Eucharist. This is the most sublime act of humility on the part of God, to enter our heart. We recall Jesus’s sacrifice, death and resurrection, and we turn to Him with faith in the the forgiveness of sins and the promise of everlasting life. In addition, the sacrament of reconciliation offers a personal moment with the Lord, when the burden of sin weighs us down. (3)      

The Pharisee did not recognize his sins, but he saw others as sinful. He treated others with contempt, which was one of his sins, pride. With this position, no wonder he was unable to reach out to others, recognize in them the beauty of God’s creation, and help them. (1) Disconnected from himself, he set himself apart from some people, and from God. He was not ready and able to see God’s forgiveness as a must for his life, nor as a gift. He listed all the things he did not do; he was not greedy, he was not dishonest, he did not commit adultery. Ironically, exactly what else he did not do proved to be his greatest mistake: He did not ask for God’s mercy and forgiveness for the things he should have and did not do, and should not have, and did do. Therefore, he did not go to his home justified because he was not receptive to God’s mercy.

Those who trust themselves instead of trusting God are not humble. Humble prayer is what Jesus says helps to build the right relationship with God, in which we are open to his gifts. Stating that “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:14) can be understood from the perspective of God and not of humans: when we allow God to act through our lives, we can be entirely authentic with God about our dreams and hopes, and also our shortcomings and sins. What is not possible to humans is possible to God, and in Him there is a fullness of life and a new creation. Our shortcomings can be opportunities where He can enter our lives and offer hope. 

Again, Jesus does not deny the Old Testament commandments, but he brings them to fulfillment. To love God means to seek him not just halfheartedly, but with our whole hearts. It means entrusting our existence fully in his care.

Jesus, on the way to the cross, taught his disciples to remain pilgrims of hope. He walked with them, taught them, and promised to remain with them. In his catechesis on October 15, 2025, Pope Leo XIV likened the resurrection of Jesus to a wellspring that does not disappoint:

“The Risen One is the living wellspring that does not dry up and does not change. It always stays pure and ready for anyone who is thirsty. And the more we taste the mystery of God, the more we are attracted to it, without ever becoming completely satiated. Saint Augustine, in the tenth Book of the Confessions, captures exactly this inexhaustible longing of our hearts and expresses it in his famous Hymn to Beauty: “You exhaled odours, and I drew in my breath and do pant after you. I tasted and do hunger and thirst. You touched me, and I burned for your peace’ (X, 27, 38).

Jesus, with his Resurrection, has guaranteed for us a permanent source of life: he is the living one (cf. Rev 1:18), the lover of life, the victor over all death. Therefore, he is able to offer us refreshment in our earthly journey and assure us of perfect peace in eternity. Only Jesus, who died and rose again, responds to the deepest questions of our heart: is there really a destination for us? Does our existence have any meaning? And the suffering of so many innocents, how can it be redeemed?

The Risen Jesus does not bestow upon us an answer “from above”, but becomes our companion on this often arduous, painful and mysterious journey. Only He can fill our empty flask when our thirst becomes unbearable.

And he is also the destination of our journey. Without his love, the voyage of life would become wandering without a goal, a tragic mistake with a missed destination. We are fragile creatures. Mistakes are part of our humanity; it is the wound of sin that makes us fall, give up, despair. To rise again instead means to get up and stand on our feet. The Risen One guarantees our arrival, leading us home, where we are awaited, loved, saved. To journey with him means to experience being sustained despite everything, to have our thirst quenched and to be refreshed in the hardships and struggles that, like heavy stones, threaten to block or divert our history.

Dear friends, from Christ’s Resurrection springs the hope that gives us a foretaste, despite the fatigue of living, of a deep and joyful calm: that peace the only he can give us in the end, without end.” (4)

Humble prayer connects us with the Lord who grants life, and life to the fullest:

“If God prefers humility, it is not to dishearten us: rather, humility is the necessary condition to be raised by Him, so as to experience the mercy that comes to fill our emptiness. If the prayer of the proud does not reach God’s heart, the humility of the poor opens it wide. God has a weakness for the humble ones. Before a humble heart, God opens his heart entirely. It is this humility that the Virgin Mary expresses in the Canticle of the Magnificat: “he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden […] his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation” (Lk 1:48, 50). Let her help us, our Mother, to pray with a humble heart. And we, let us repeat that beautiful prayer three times: “Oh God, be merciful to me a sinner.” (5)

References

1. Peters, T. (2025). Luke 18:9-14: The 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Gospel Reflection, Year C, Fr. Tim Peters. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX7DFDOlnyY. Accessed; October 21, 2025.
2. Schutte, D. (2016). Lord have Mercy/Kyrie Elieson. You Tube. Retrieved from: https://www.google.com/search?q=Lord+have+mercy++kyrie+eleison+catholic+mass&sca_esv=3aa3359d46e30aa6&sxsrf=AE3TifMfBa. Accessed: October 21, 2025. 
3. Diocese of Broken Bay (2023). Reconciliation: A Short Guide. Retrieved from: https://www.bbcatholic.org.au/mission/parish-renewal-and-discipleship/the-light-is-on/reconciliation-a-short-guide. Accessed: October 21, 2025.
4. Pope Leo XIV (2025). General Audience. Wednesday, 15th of October 2025. Pope Leo XIV Audiences. Retrieved from: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/audiences/2025/documents/20251015-udienza-generale.html. Accessed: October 21, 2025.
5. Pope Francis (2016). General Audience. Wednesday, 1st June 2016. Francis Audiences. Retrieved from: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2016/documents/papa-francesco_20160601_udienza-generale.html Accessed: October 21, 2025.