READING OF THE DAY First reading from the Book of Sirach SIR 35:12-14, 16-18
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 from the second letter of Saint Paul to Timothy 2 TM 4:6-8, 16-18
Beloved: I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. 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. At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them! 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. 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 From the Gospel according to Luke LK 18:9-14
Jesus 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 whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER When the Church is humble, when the Church is poor, even when the Church confesses her wretchedness – we all experience this – then the Church is faithful. The Church says: ‘I am dark, but my light comes from there!' This does us all good. Humble. Without boasting of having our own light, always seeking the light that comes from the Lord. (Santa Marta, 24 November 2014)
FAUSTI - In this diptych we have two models of faith and prayer. On the one hand the Pharisee, who prays before his own self. Confident of his own goodness, he justifies himself and condemns other people. On the other hand the publican, who, feeling distant from God and unable to trust in himself, accuses himself and invokes forgiveness. Similar to that of lepers and of the blind, is the prayer that purifies and enlightens, introducing to Jerusalem. It is a prayer with two poles: His Mercy and my misery. Humility is the unique quality capable of attracting the Most High: it makes me a vessel, which, emptied of the "I", can be filled by God. This prayer of a publican will be mine when I discover my sin of Pharisee.One does not consider oneself a sinner, but "the" sinner, "the most responsible of all". The rest are for him, unlike the Pharisee, all righteous. All the characters of Luke's Gospel can refer to these two figures, which represent respectively the impossibility and the possibility of salvation. In fact, more exactly: we serious Christians are all twin brothers of the Pharisee, the presumed righteous, whom Jesus wants to convert into a self-confessed offender, so that he may accept grace. Jesus reveals to the Pharisee how he is, putting a mirror in front of him. All the characters of Luke's Gospel can refer to these two figures, which represent respectively the impossibility and the possibility of salvation. In fact, more exactly: we serious Christians are all twin brothers of the Pharisee, the presumed righteous, whom Jesus wants to convert into a confessed offender, so that he may accept grace. Jesus reveals to the Pharisee how he is, putting a mirror in front of him: the publican, in which he doesn't want to recognize himself, it's the deep part of his ego that he doesn't accept. Luke's Gospel encourages this acknowledgement in a scandalous way, condemning the just and justifying the sinner. The righteous is condemned because, in the effort to observe the prescriptions of the Law, he neglects the commandment from which they arise: the love of God and of one's neighbor. The sinner, on the other hand, is justified. This is the true scandal of the Gospel, which allows us to accept our reality as sinners in that of God Who loves us unconditionally - not for our merits, but for His Love as a Father. The faith and prayer that introduce into the Kingdom are based on this trusting humility, the fruit of the new knowledge of oneself and of God. In fact, without humility, prayer is of the I and not of God, trust is in itself and not in Him. The first is self-glorification, the second is presumption. This account helps us to discern our prayer. This is true when, recognizing ourselves in the Pharisee, we make our own the prayer of the publican. The humility that Luke requires of every believer is to recognize his own humiliating pride of Pharisee.
READING OF THE DAY
RispondiEliminaFirst reading from the Book of Sirach
SIR 35:12-14, 16-18
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 from the second letter of Saint Paul to Timothy
2 TM 4:6-8, 16-18
Beloved:
I am already being poured out like a libation,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have competed well; I have finished the race;
I have kept the faith.
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.
At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf,
but everyone deserted me.
May it not be held against them!
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.
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
From the Gospel according to Luke
LK 18:9-14
Jesus 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 whoever exalts himself will be humbled,
and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER
When the Church is humble, when the Church is poor, even when the Church confesses her wretchedness – we all experience this – then the Church is faithful. The Church says: ‘I am dark, but my light comes from there!' This does us all good. Humble. Without boasting of having our own light, always seeking the light that comes from the Lord. (Santa Marta, 24 November 2014)
FAUSTI - In this diptych we have two models of faith and prayer.
RispondiEliminaOn the one hand the Pharisee, who prays before his own self. Confident of his own goodness, he justifies himself and condemns other people.
On the other hand the publican, who, feeling distant from God and unable to trust in himself, accuses himself and invokes forgiveness.
Similar to that of lepers and of the blind, is the prayer that purifies and enlightens, introducing to Jerusalem.
It is a prayer with two poles: His Mercy and my misery.
Humility is the unique quality capable of attracting the Most High: it makes me a vessel, which, emptied of the "I", can be filled by God.
This prayer of a publican will be mine when I discover my sin of Pharisee.One does not consider oneself a sinner, but "the" sinner, "the most responsible of all".
The rest are for him, unlike the Pharisee, all righteous.
All the characters of Luke's Gospel can refer to these two figures, which represent respectively the impossibility and the possibility of salvation.
In fact, more exactly: we serious Christians are all twin brothers of the Pharisee, the presumed righteous, whom Jesus wants to convert into a self-confessed offender, so that he may accept grace.
Jesus reveals to the Pharisee how he is, putting a mirror in front of him.
All the characters of Luke's Gospel can refer to these two figures, which represent respectively the impossibility and the possibility of salvation.
In fact, more exactly: we serious Christians are all twin brothers of the Pharisee, the presumed righteous, whom Jesus wants to convert into a confessed offender, so that he may accept grace.
Jesus reveals to the Pharisee how he is, putting a mirror in front of him:
the publican, in which he doesn't want to recognize himself, it's the deep part of his ego that he doesn't accept.
Luke's Gospel encourages this acknowledgement in a scandalous way, condemning the just and justifying the sinner.
The righteous is condemned because, in the effort to observe the prescriptions of the Law, he neglects the commandment from which they arise: the love of God and of one's neighbor.
The sinner, on the other hand, is justified.
This is the true scandal of the Gospel, which allows us to accept our reality as sinners in that of God Who loves us unconditionally - not for our merits, but for His Love as a Father.
The faith and prayer that introduce into the Kingdom are based on this trusting humility, the fruit of the new knowledge of oneself and of God.
In fact, without humility, prayer is of the I and not of God, trust is in itself and not in Him.
The first is self-glorification, the second is presumption.
This account helps us to discern our prayer.
This is true when, recognizing ourselves in the Pharisee, we make our own the prayer of the publican.
The humility that Luke requires of every believer is to recognize his own humiliating pride of Pharisee.