HOMILY FOR THE 30TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C.
THEME: “LORD, BE MERCIFUL TO ME, A SINNER”
BY: Fr. Cajetan Anyanwu.
HOMILY FOR SUNDAY OCTOBER 23 2022.
This is the 30th Sunday in ordinary time. Humility is a virtue that everyone needs to pray for. A humble person is like the patient dog that eats the fattest bone. A proud person falls into trouble frequently but the humble is exalted because he depends on God. For this reason, “the humble man’s prayer pierces the clouds” (Ecclsiasticus 35:12-14.16-19). Anyone who depends on God shall be exalted higher.
Paul in his humility depended on God and he was able to tell Timothy, “I have fought the good fight …l have kept the faith”(2Tim.4:6-8. 16-18). Only the humble person can keep faith in God always. The proud will depend on wealth and earthly things. The humble fears God, keeps the commandments and lives honorable life. He respects others, avoids evil and maintains justice and peace.
Jesus used the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in the temple to illustrate that pride goes before a fall. While the Pharisee proudly paraded himself as a virtuous man, the tax collected humbly prayed for mercy. “God, be merciful to me a sinner” (Lk. 18:9-14). We should know that humility in this sense does not mean that one is poor or unintelligent . It means total dependence and total submission of oneself to God’s will. The prayer of a humble person reaches God’s ears. In humility let us say, Lord, not my will, but, let thy will be done in my life, amen. Happy Sunday.
