27 October 2019 - Lord, have mercy

 

Today's Readings

(Audio)

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.

The most certain way to not receive God's help is to convince ourselves that we don't need it. The LORD wants to show mercy to anyone who knows his need of mercy. He wants to pour out his gifts on those who are not too full to receive them.

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.

We cannot earn more by being better. We deserve no less by being less. God "is a God of justice who knows no favorites." With the tax collector we should pray 'O God, be merciful to me a sinner' with the profound confidence that 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".

What is the secret of having our prayers heard? Humility, clearly. But is it the sort of self-loathing that might seem to be implicated by the tone of the tax collector? While we must certainly express what contrition we have,  there is something more. We must not become so fixated on ourselves and our faults that we despair. Rather, even more important than contrition is the longing for God and the assurance of faith that he will answer. For if we do not have this, how will contrition profit us?

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.

We may enter into the confessional unable to raise our eyes to heaven, beating our breasts, and praying for mercy. But we do so because we know that we can go home justified, exalted by the God of mercy.

The LORD is asking us to turn away from our effort to be strong enough on our own and to increase our reliance on him and his strength.

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.