30th Sunday of the Year (C)

Sunday Readings from Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)
October 27, 2013 (edited for October 26, 2025)
Liturgical readings
Ecclesiasticus 35:12-14, 16-18
Psalm 34
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Luke 18:9-14

The Lord humbles the exalted and exalts the humble.

Jesus spoke this parable


addressed to those who believed
in their own self-righteousness
while holding everyone else
in contempt:


"Two men
went up to the temple


to pray;


one was a Pharisee,


the other a tax collector.


The Pharisee
        with head unbowed
        prayed in this fashion:


'I give you thanks,
O God,
that I am not like
the rest of men


        - grasping,
        crooked,
        adulterous


        - or even
        like this tax collector.


I fast twice a week.
I pay tithes on all I possess.'


The other man,
however,


kept his distance,


not even daring
to raise his eyes to heaven.


All he did
was beat his breast
and say,


        'O God,
        be merciful to me,
        a sinner.'


Believe me,
this man went home
from the temple justified


but the other
did not.


For everyone
who exalts himself
shall be humbled


        while he
        who humbles himself
        shall be exalted."

Scripture quotes:
"He who serves God willingly is heard; his petition reaches the heavens." (Ecclesiasticus 35)
"From all distress the Lord rescues the just." (Psalm 34)
"Paul fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith." (2 Timothy)
"O God, be merciful to me, a sinner." (Luke 18)

"He who humbles himself shall be exalted."

The parable of the Pharisee and the Publican is found in the 30th Sunday of the Year (C)'s liturgical readings. This passage from the gospel of Luke teaches an important truth that God is more pleased with a contrite heart, than a heart filled with self-righteousness or indignation at those who have sinned. Jesus emphasizes in the parable that what is favorable in God's eyes is the prayer of the publican and not the prayer of the Pharisee. This truth taught in biblical times remains true for all people today; and it will remain true tomorrow, and for all time. Because human nature, especially the heart of man and the wanderings of his mind, is, by his basic sinfulness, still prone to the most vile of all vices - pride. And in a time of crisis, everyone is in need of humility more now, as it was then in the time of the Lord.

Humility is a difficult virtue to practice; but easier with work and a life of discipline. It is the ground by which all other virtues are founded upon. Its strength is in the soul's relationship with God-in-Jesus, who by His very example, taught all how to be humble. Though Jesus was God, He allowed Himself to be born in a humble stable and into a poor family (Catechism #525). In such humble circumstances, only the shepherds and the Magi were able to distinctly discern and know that there is divinity in that baby in Bethlehem wrapped in swaddling clothes. The Son of God truly emptied Himself and took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:7).

If we are to practice the discipline of humility today, a great help would be the practice of self-awareness. Some of us are often tempted to judge by appearances, but fail to see the truth within. When one is aware of God's presence in all areas of his work and life, he understands the truth from God's perspective, which in turn enlightens his mind to see from a broader, bigger, and wiser perspective. It prevents the soul from rash judgments and from looking only at externals. Silencing one's mind and heart regularly gives that opportunity for self-awareness and to discern the truth from God's perspective. It dispels the blindness caused by judging from worldly standards alone - which are often focused only on externals -blind to what is within, and how all truth is known in the context of the past and the future.

The author of "One Minute Meditations" (John H. Hampsch) says that it seems coincidental that the letters in the word "silent" are also the same letters in the word "listen". Silence and listening are important attitudes to cultivate the virtue of self-awareness and humility. It is basic to discerning the truth God wants to reveal to us personally, or with others in community; it is also silence in the Eucharist, especially after communion, that reveals to us that what we received is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of One who exemplified humility on the Cross. It is in communion that we receive the Remedy, Christ Himself, for all venial sins committed in the spirit of pride.

29th Sunday of the Year (C)

Sunday Reflection (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

Sunday, October 20, 2013 (edited for 10/19/2025)
Liturgical readings
Exodus 17:8-13
Psalm 121
2 Timothy 3:14 - 4:12
Luke 18:1-8

"On the necessity of praying always and not losing heart."

Jesus told his disciples a parable
on the necessity of praying always
and not losing heart:


"Once
there was a judge
in a certain city
who respected neither God
        nor man.


A widow
in that city
kept coming to him
saying,


'Give me my rights
against my opponent.'


For a time
he refused,
but finally he thought,


'I care little
for God or man,
but this widow
is wearing me down.


I am going to settle
in her favor
or she will end
by doing me violence.'"


The Lord said,


"Listen
to what the corrupt judge
has to say.


Will not God
then do justice
to his chosen
who call out to him
day and night?


Will he delay long over them,
do you suppose?


I tell you,


he will give them
swift justice.


But when the Son of Man comes,


will he find
any faith on the earth?"

27th Sunday of the Year (C) - October 3, 2010 (edited for 10/19/2025)

"The necessity of praying always and not losing heart."

The gospel for the 29th Sunday of the Year (C) speaks about the parable of the persistent widow. The parable begins with a widow seeking the help of a judge to assist her in her case. But the judge only ignored her because of his lack of respect for God and man. The widow, however, was very persistent. So persistent was she in entreating the judge to give her the rights she justly deserves against her opponent, that the judge was forced to relent. This widow did not give up but was intent on her goal to continue her efforts until eventually they were "wearing the judge down". If the judge had not acted on her insistent plea, he may have ended up a victim of the widow's "persistence".

Studies in scripture classifies the poor in biblical times into the following groups: the widows, the orphans, women and children, the sick (especially the lepers) and the sinners, and the foreigners. These groups are often mentioned in the Old Testament. They are the ones defended by the prophets sent by God. In the New Testament, these groups are still present, and they are exactly the people Jesus helps - people who cry out to Jesus, call His name out loud, or fight their way through the crowds to reach Him. Jesus never fails to grant them the attention they need, unless there would be some initial hindrance because of race or taboo. But, eventually, when a member of these groups exhibit a faith greater than any one in Israel, Jesus attends to their plea. For the mission of Jesus is to:

Bring glad tidings to the poor,
to proclaim liberty to captives,
recovery of sight to the blind
and release of prisoners" (cf. Luke 4:18)

In anyone's journey of faith, one might be faced with a situation, not exactly like, but similar in degree of intensity, to the widow in the parable. Jesus gives us the key to unlock the solution to such a difficulty or problem: persistence in one's prayer life. Like the widow in the gospel parable, as we follow the strength of the widow's persistence by a life of prayer and consistent action, God's grace eventually arrives. Perhaps not at the time we desire, but in His time. A strong persistence is one that is combined with patience and determination. And while one's prayer is not yet realized, other less important matters can be resolved with strategic patience. Also, while we continue to pray, one's level of faith and confidence in God grows, and eventually that level of faith becomes strong enough to receive the answer to the prayer you have always prayed for.

And while one has been waiting and working for the answer to his prayer, a virtuous path is lined up and paved for him: one of prayer, persistence, patience, faith, confidence, and productive actions that eventually produce the good one has prayed for persistently.

(from the Classics of the Church)

"Only he who perseveres in asking, seeking, and knocking, will receive, will find and will enter. It is not enough to ask God for certain graces for a month, a year, ten or twenty years; we must never tire of asking. We must keep on asking until the very moment of death..." (St. Louis-Marie de Montfort, paragraph 145, "Secret of the Rosary")

28th Sunday of the Year (C)

Reflections : 28th Sunday of the Year (C) - October 10, 2010 (edited for 10/12/25)
Liturgical readings
2 Kings 5:14-17
Psalm 98
2 Timothy 2:8-13
Luke 17:11-19

"Your faith has been your salvation."

The gospel for the 28th Sunday of the Year tells the story of Jesus healing ten lepers. As Jesus healed all of them, only one of the lepers came back to Jesus. This leper who was cured from his infirmity "threw himself on his face at the feet of Jesus, and spoke his praises". Jesus took this occasion to ask him, "what about the other nine? Were not they made whole also?" But the healed leper did not answer. His gratitude was so great that his attention was to keep his eyes on the healer who made him whole again. Then Jesus opened his eyes to the truth that it was his very faith in Him that saved him from his sickness.

An author of a Catholic commentary on the gospel of Luke, Karris, wrote that the focus of this story was not so much the healing miracle of the ten lepers, but the teaching of Jesus on the value of gratitude. Karris continues to say that the experience itself of the cure did not save the leper: it was his returning and praising God in faith that saved him. By this interpretation, Karris helps the readers of the gospel understand a deeper Christian truth. Any experience of the miraculous is not salvation itself. Salvation is effected by our continuous acts of faith in Jesus as the Healer not only of our physical ills, but even more important, the ills of our soul.

In a very scientific world filled with both medical and technology advancements, some people may think that healing is only on the level of the physical. But every person's soul needs healing also. Some medical scholars believe that physical ailments are often caused by the sickness of the psyche - the soul. If the psyche is healed, then the physical infirmity begins to heal also. What factors can cause sickness? One cause is simply imbalance. A week of intense work and activity can make the mind, heart, soul, and body so drained and without energy. This is why Jesus in other passages of the gospels tells His apostles to come over to a deserted place to rest and to pray. Too much activity can fill one's soul with a noise that not only distracts from the "One thing necessary", but can bring so many illnesses that can be chronic if not checked. When the noise and the chaos of the world invades our soul, siilence is one key to the inner healing of mind, heart and soul. Fr. Pierre-Marie Delfieux in his book, "In the Heart of the City, In the Heart of God", says:

'When you are troubled, tempted or tired, silence will set things right. It will teach you self-control, restraint, self-mastery..."

When after a day's work one takes time to quiet down and settle in a silence that makes one aware of God's presence, then one can see the truth that indeed, He is the Divine Physician. He sets things right and puts our work and life in the proper balance needed to be healthy, strong, and useful, to contribute within one's means, to the building and extension of His Kingdom here on earth.