Homily For Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 23rd October, 2022. The World Mission Sunday

  Reading: Sirach 35:12-14.16-18; Ps.34; 2Tim.4:6-8.16-18; Luke:18:9-14

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 “GOD, BE MERCIFUL TO ME, A SINNER”: THE RIGHT ATTITUDE AND DISPOSITION TOWARDS PRAYER ARE HUMILITY AND CONTRITION

There is no doubt that prayer is part and parcel of our Christian life. It is the act of raising up our minds and hearts to God. But sometimes we find it difficult to carry out this exercise because we don't understand how or what is demanded of us or the best disposition to prayer.

This is what Jesus is addressing in our Gospel passage today. For we heard how two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood there and said this prayer to himself, “I thank you, God, that I am not grasping, unjust, adulterous like the rest of mankind, and particularly that I am not like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes on all I get.”  While the tax collector stood some distance away, not daring even to raise his eyes to heaven; but beat his breast and said, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” Hence, Jesus said, the tax collector, went home at rights with God; the Pharisee did not. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the man who humbles himself will be exalted. 

In this parable, Jesus wants to let us know the importance of praying with the right attitude and disposition, especially those of us who think we are very righteous and look down on people. For we can draw from this parable a sure remedy for arrogance in our prayer life and acts of piety. This is important because our prayers and pieties, if done with humility will be pleasing to God and will even lead us to make frequent acts of contrition of our wrong doings. But when humility and contribution are lacking our prayers will be presented arrogantly, judgementally and will be fruitless just like the Pharisees. 

So, it is important to have the right attitude and disposition towards prayers. Little wonder Pope Francis said: “It is not enough, therefore, to ask how much we pray; rather, we have to ask ourselves how do we pray, or better, what is the state of  our heart during prayers: it is important to examine it so as to evaluate our thoughts, our feelings, and root out arrogance and hypocrisy just like the tax collector.

For we heard how the tax collector stood at a distance proclaiming his guilt and beating his breast in contrition. Hence, we are encouraged to be sorry for our sins. As we know, Contrition according to catechism of the Catholic Church is sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again. Especially when it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else. This contrition is called “perfect” (contrition of charity) and is a gift from God. The second contrition is called “imperfect”  which is also a gift of God, a prompting of the Holy Spirit. It comes out of the consideration of the ugliness of sin or the fear of eternal damnation and the other penalties threatening the sinner (which is referred as the contrition of fear)” (CCC 1451-1453).

Dear friends, in prayer, we are not to give God instructions or present our profile of piety, but our disposition should be that of humility and contrition just like this tax collector. We are to present ourselves to God just like a good servant will report for duty and wait for instructions from his master. So, we are to respond in obedience to God's instructions in prayer for there we encounter God in the inner most part of our being. Thus, we are told in our first reading today that the man who with his whole heart serves God will be accepted, his petitions will be carried to the clouds. For the humble man’s prayer pierces the clouds, and he will not be consoled until it reaches the Lord. And the Lord will not be slow in responding or executing his judgment. 

This is what we heard St. Paul in our second reading today expressing when he said: "My life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to be gone. I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his Appearing". Therefore, today we are called to cultivate the right disposition towards prayers especially that of humble and contrite heart and learn how to communicate with God the right way.

So, today as we celebrate the World Mission Sunday which began in 1926 by the degree of Pope Pius X, we are called to reflect on the missionary mandate that Jesus gave us, thereby reminding us that we are called to be missionaries, professing our faith to the whole world, telling them about the truth and love of God which we have found in Jesus Christ our Lord. As Christians, all of us by the virtue of our baptism have received this mission from Jesus. For every baptized person is obligated to be part of the missionary activities of the Church by witnessing with our lives and by supporting the missionary activities which we are called to do today. 

And since we are all beneficiaries of missionary sacrifices of others, we too have experienced the love of God and his benevolence, which we must extend to others. We must constantly renew the knowledge of God’s Kingdom in the hearts of humanity as Jesus commanded us to do. But what is that obstacle in your life that distract and limits your missionary zeal and passion? We are called today to renew that missionary passion and zeal. Remember, that the true sign of a healthy Church is seen and established from the missionary activities carried out by the people of God.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we do not know how to pray as we ought, as we listen to your words today, may we learn how to cultivate the right attitude and disposition towards prayers and missionary activities. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. wishing you a peaceful and joyful Sunday celebration.