First reading: 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: 2 Tim. 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: 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.”

In other words 

Fr. Dennis B. Testado, SVD (University of San Carlos, Cebu City)

“Humility saves man; pride makes him lose his way.” These words of Pope Francis describe the fate of the Pharisee and the tax collector in today’s Gospel—the former did not find favor with God while the latter was pleasing before God.

Let us take a look at the attitude of the Pharisee and the tax collector in the Gospel. The Pharisee stood up and prayed, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like the tax collector. I do fasting twice a week, and I give a tithe of everything I get.” The Pharisee exalted himself at the expense of others. Absorbed with self-satisfaction and self-congratulation, he mainly prayed about himself. His prayer consisted of bragging about what he did and of disdaining those he despised.

The tax collector, on the other hand, exemplified humility before God and begged for mercy. Standing at a distance, he cannot even raise his eyes to heaven as a sign of guilt. Instead of telling God the good things about himself, he described himself as a sinner.

The fate of the Pharisee and the tax collector underlines what God favors—humility.

Fr. Frank Mihalic makes an illustration (1000 Stories): If two goats meet each other in a narrow path above a stream of water, what do they do? They cannot turn back, and they cannot pass each other, for there is not an inch of spare room. Instinctively, they know that if they butt each other, both will fall into the water below and drown. What would they do? Nature has taught one goat to lie down so that the other can pass over its body; as a result, each goat arrives at its destination safe and sound.

This Sunday, we are invited to develop an attitude of humility. Humility assures God’s benevolence, for he favors the humble.