The Tax Collector, the Pharisee “O God, Be Merciful to Me, a Sinner”

“O God, Be Merciful to Me, A sinner” Which of the two people in today’s Gospel do we relate to more readily? the Pharisee or the tax collector?

In Jesus time the Pharisees represented the intellectual sector of the people. They were contentious students of Jewish religious law. They were self righteous as can be seen by the statement. “I thank you that I am not like the rest of uhumanity.”

Faith

Faith is the substance of things not seen but hoped for. The first theological virtue is a pure gift to each of us who have it and to others. We must not take it for granted but pray that it be increased in us and obtained by those who have it not or who reject it.

This is the essence of the Gospel message of Jesus to us today. Pray always and do not become weary. Even so Jesus Himself questions whether When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?

Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

We have before us on this Sabbath morning the recounting of the creation of man; male and female He created them. The establishment of the sanctity and indissolubility of marriage, the sacredness of children and the Kingdom of Heaven.