A HUMBLED, CONTRITE HEART O LORD YOU WILL NOT SPURN

⏰Saturday of the Third Week of Lent (10 March 2018)

????Hos 6:1-6; Ps 51:3-4, 18-19, 20-21ab (R. Hos 6:6); Luke 18:9-14

????”A HUMBLED, CONTRITE HEART, O LORD, YOU WILL NOT SPURN” (Ps 51:17)

What exactly does Jesus stand out to condemn in this Pharisee who went to pray in the Temple with the tax collector? (Luke 18:9-14). Is it now a crime to be righteous?

Obviously the Pharisee went extra mile to keep the Law and even added more. He was not an example of the Pharisees who would give others the load that they could not carry themselves. So what is the problem?

It is P-R-I-D-E! This man was FULL of himself and so needed nothing from God.

Instead of appreciating the grace of God that enabled him to righteous, he came to give God a testimonial of his righteousness. Having justified himself, he does not have room for God to justify him. That is why Jesus said he went home unjustified but the tax collector who could not even lift up his head, having recognized how empty he was, went home justified (Luke 18:14).

Do we realize that it is the GRACE OF GOD that keeps us righteous? Our righteousness is just a cooperation of that grace. The prophet Hosea calls us to that realisation so that we may get more mercy from God (cf. Hosea 6:1-6).

So instead of judging others and justifying ourselves, we need to appreciate God and pray earnestly for the sinners to also cooperate with that grace. When you want to laugh at a pagan, remember that it is the Spirit that enables you to call God, Abba Father (Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6).

Don’t forget! The point is HUMILITY! And may the Lord grant us the grace of remaining humble even in the face of great spiritual and temporal achievements. Amen.

Have a graceful weekend with the Lord. Peace be with you dear.