October 27-28, 2007
Buddhist Temple in Taiwan
Prayer is a way of our communication with God. We talk to God through prayer, whether we say in the silence of our hearts or we say it together as one community. Prayer is basically is an expression of our faith, that we belief there is a God. I just came from my holiday. I spent a few days in Taiwan, and then three weeks in the Philippines. My friends in Taiwan are Buddhist, we visited a Buddhist temple I prayed with people of different belief. It was my first time to experience praying with Buddhists but although they have a different image of God I could sense the presence of God as I joined them in prayer.
My Buddhist friend told me that they visit the temple to pray before they travel abroad, when making a big decision in business, in short God is always part of their life’s existence.
Prayer basic expression of our faith
When we pray we feel the presence of God, we reconcile with God, we adore God, express our petitions, we become ready to face problems, trials, change a new person. Prayer must reflect our attitude towards other people.
Praying with humility
The main theme of today’s readings is the need for true humility as the hallmark of our prayers. God loves us when we pray with humility. We could even say that humility is the key to God's heart, a sure guarantee to a favorable reply. In our first reading today, the Book of Sirach teaches the same thing. Humility is the beginning of wisdom. A humble heart puts us on the level of the poor and needy to whom God always bends an ear. Of course, when we pray, we must really mean what we say when we acknowledge our sins and imperfections. Now that shouldn't be difficult!
St. Paul's words to Timothy in the second reading are not only beautiful but have a very personal tone: "I have competed well, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." St Paul reveals his suffering by following Christ, but he clearly sees that the way to follow Jesus is by accepting lowliness and suffering. He was proud that he fulfilled his duties as a Christian but he was humble enough brings back all the credit to God.
Humble prayers are heard because they come from the hearts of people who know how much they need God.
In the Gospel, Jesus presents to us two different characters that have two different ways of praying. The Pharisee stands in the very front of the temple, distancing himself from his inferiors, and his prayer is self-centered. If we analyze his prayer we can say that he is not praying at all. He wasn't really praying to God, but merely talking to himself about all his virtues. He believes that he is spotless, perfect and holy; He is under the mistaken impression that he can fulfill all that is required of him by his own actions; he just present to God all his good works, comparing how good he is than other people. At the same time, he was guilty of rash judging that poor tax-collector at the rear of the Temple who didn't even dare raise his eyes to heaven as he begged forgiveness for all his sins.
The Pharisee's prayer didn't impress the Lord very much. In fact, he didn't even return home justified.
Tax Collector
On the other hand, the tax collector's prayer earned him forgiveness from God. Why? Not because of his offenses, but because he honestly acknowledged them and humbly repented. He is aware of his brokenness and opens himself to God, asking for his mercy. He stood at the back of the temple, and would not even lift his eyes to God. He confesses his sins and humbly asks for God’s mercy: "O God, be merciful to me--the sinner."
His prayer was short, but to the purpose. His heart-broken, humble prayer wins him acceptance before God.
Mother Theresa
There is always the danger of religion becoming religiosity. Even our good works can become an obstacle to our relationship with God, if we don’t recognise God’s role.
A news reporter once asked a daring question to Mother Teresa if she was ever tempted to be proud. Mother Theresa inquired with a smile, "Proud about what?" The reporter replied, 'Why, about the wonderful things you have been doing for the poorest of the poor?” Then came her answer, "I never knew I had done anything, because it was God who had worked in and through my Sisters and volunteers.” True humility differentiates a saint from a sinner. If we are proud of our talents, our family connections, our reputation, or our achievements in life, today’s gospel tells us that we need Jesus to rid us of our pride and make us truly humble.
Lesson
Evict the Pharisee and revive the publican in each one of us. There is a big dose of the Pharisee's pride in us and a small dose of the tax-collector's humility. If you think you’re God, you deceive yourself. That’s why the humble tax collector, who asked God for mercy, went home reconciled with God while the proud Pharisee did not. If we are not sensitive to other people we are not sensitive to God. The Pharisee was not sensitive to the tax-collector, and hence he was not sensitive to God. The tax-collector was sensitive to his own failings and thus was equally sensitive to God. Sensitivity to other people and sensitivity to God go hand in hand.
A good daily dose of humility added to our prayer can make us better Christians. Humility before God because we are all equal O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
When I fall, He lifts me up! When I fail, He forgives!When I am weak, He is strong! When I am lost, He is the way!When I am afraid, He is my courage! When I stumble, He steadies me!When I am hurt, He heals me!When I am broken, He mends me!When I am blind, He leads me!When I am hungry, He feeds me!When I face trials, He is with me!When I face persecution, He shields me! When I face problems, He comforts me!When I face loss, He provides for me!When I face Death, He carries me Home
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