Sunday, October 27, 2019 Sir 35:15b-21; 2 Tim 4:6-8. 16-18; Lk 18:9-14 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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.” Lk 18:11-12
Otto Neubauer is a member of the Emanuel community who has helped prepare folk missions in Vienna, Paris, and Prague. In his memories, he admits that in Graz he met a biology student, Carol, whose personal charm and beauty fascinated him. He considered himself a well-behaved and active Christian. He automatically categorized Carol among the worldly girls. Though she was baptized, she had nothing to do with either the church or the faith. So he decided to give up on her. Despite great sympathy and his evangelistic skills, he did not believe that this girl could convert. He had not even thought that her conversion could be possible to God. However, one morning he heard a voice inside: "If you want Carol’s conversion, you must convert first." In contact with her, he began to confront his own thoughts with her attitudes, and increasingly saw that he is the one who really needed mercy and conversion. He was the one who pigeonholed and judged her. She was the one who entered the relationship without prejudice. He was becoming aware of how poor and limited he was and how many self-justifying attitudes were accompanying his life. He had no idea how he deservedly lived in God's blessing, favor, and mercy.
Do you realize your values? How do you evaluate others? Do you rely on God's grace, that precedes and accompanies your actions?
“If you want to boast and do not want to look foolish or unreasonable, throw away everything that is not yours and boast with whatever is left to you. But if you throw away everything that is not yours, you will be left with nothing.” St. John of the Cross
The Words of Pope Francis