My dear friends,
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ, now and forever!
We are now on the last week of the month of October – the Month of the Rosary; an opportunity for us to mediate on the mysteries of Jesus’ life through prayer. This puts Jesus Christ at the center of our lives, to find peace and virtue through our Blessed Mother Mary, by her intercessions and guidance. By praying the Rosary, it helps us to focus our lives and society on Jesus, much like Mary did by contemplating the events of Jesus’ life. This devotion is seen as a powerful way to seek grace for ourselves and for the world by overcoming distractions and focusing on God. May you and your family pray the rosary everyday as venerable Fr. Patrick Peyton says, “The Family that prays together stays together.”
Our readings this weekend remind us that God listens to our prayers not for the proud but for the humble. It’s an invitation for us to look within ourselves in order to live with humility, honesty and trust in God’s mercy. The book of Sirach (Sirach 35: 15 -17, 20-22), reflects on divine justice and the power of humble, sincere prayer. The passage offers a powerful message of hope for the oppressed and affirms that God hears the cries of the vulnerable. How can we, our family and community, become a voice for the oppressed, the orphan, and the widow?
St. Paul (2 Timothy 4: 6–8, 16–18), reveals his resolute final testimony. Writing from prison near the end of his life, he looks back on his ministry with a sense of completion and ahead to his death with confident hope. He also shares a personal moment of betrayal and loneliness, contrasting it with the unwavering faithfulness of God. Like St. Paul, we need to trust in God’s presence and strength to help us finish what we have started, no matter the difficulty. Remember that even when we feel abandoned, God is always with us.
In our Gospel (Luke 18:9-14), the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, teaches us how to approach God in prayer and the importance of being humble over self-righteous pride in praying. Humility is the key to receive God’s grace; for a humble, repentant heart is justified by God, while a proud, self-assured person who despises others will not receive God’s grace. The parable shows that God “resists the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). May our prayers, though simple, be a sincere and passionate cry for the mercy of God. AMEN God Loves You!
~ Fr. NEIL