Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: March 9, 2024

Date:  Saturday of the 3rd Week of Lent

Scripture Text:  Luke 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 everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The short gospel text for today from Luke recounts Jesus’ powerful parable about rightful humility. Jesus compares the actions and thoughts of two men who would have been judged by the world because of their position. But then Jesus adds the actions and prayers of the two. The listeners would have been as jarred by the arrogance of the first as by the authentic humility of the second. Then Jesus ends with the whole point: “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted. We humans may judge on the externals and on position and prestige, but the LORD judges us on our authentic love and essential and honest humility.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Who do I think I am? Do I arrogantly judge others who are different than me? Have I spent time in front of the crucifix and realized my sins we on Jesus’ mind and were among those that necessitated such loving sacrifice?

Praying:

LORD, we lift our minds and hearts to You with all humility, recognizing all You are and all that is because of You. Everyday and everywhere we see your power and presence at work in our world, in others, in us. Help us, LORD, as we make our way on our journeys to You to do so with the knowledge of your loving mercy, without which we have no hope. Guide our minds and hearts, our words and actions, for we know apart from You there is no goodness. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.