Reflection for Sunday – October 26, 2025

Sr. Barbara Moore, RSMSunday Readings Homilies

Readings: Sirach 35: 12-14, 16-18; Timothy 4: 6-8,16-18; Luke 18: 9-14
Preacher: Sr. Barbara Moore

The words Jesus uses to describe the pharisee at prayer remind me of attitudes you and I often see, hear or sense about individuals or groups who live among us.  Or perhaps thoughts that reveal what we have felt at times.  “O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity—greedy, dishonest, adulterous—or even like this tax collector.”  If The Pharisee is there to pray, why is he referring to someone else doing the same thing?  Mahatma Gandhi is quoted as saying, “It has always been a mystery to me how men (and women) feel themselves honored by the humiliation of their fellow human beings.”  But to be honest we see that reality all around us these days.

Jesus shares this parable by using two characters familiar to his listeners.  Tax collectors were feared, hated and distrusted and a Pharisee was, by his training and position, often given respect and honor.  But some saw that their words and actions did not often match. Their chosen spots in the Temple are significant signs of their self-opinion and the reality of their importance.  Think of the words Jesus places on their tongues.  “Oh God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity” and then he lists the sins of others.  The tax collector simply tells the truth about himself.  “O God be merciful to me a sinner.”

The reality is that both men and their occupations could be improved, and Jesus knows what they are saying is part of their story.  But it is interesting that one, while praying, praises his own actions and the other one admits his sins.  One realizes he has abused others the other sees himself above others.  My guess is that within either group, Pharisee or tax collector, there were struggling good people trying to do their best.  And probably we can find ourselves in either character. But Jesus’ call is for honesty, care of others and a realization that the center of our lives is the God who created all of us.

Paul whose ministry evolves after Jesus’ death, faced hard times as we read in the letter to Timothy. It is in Rome that he will be executed.  Perhaps he is aware of that reality when we read, “I have finished the race; I have kept the faith….  “…no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me.”  Imagine trying to remain loyal in that environment.  And think about our world today and the men and women who could say the very same thing.  “…no one appeared on my behalf.”

But Paul’s commitment to the embrace of God for the Gentiles is steadfast.  Perhaps we too, like Paul, have on some level, been in a place where we have felt abandoned.  And that reality brings us back to our first reading from the Book of Sirach.  The author reminds all of us that God, “who shows no favorites, …hears the cries of the oppressed and the prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds.”   Imagine believing that.  And Sirach tells us that our prayer does not rest till it reaches its goal (and) …the Most High responds.”

There are so many lessons in our readings this weekend.  May I suggest that you select one of them, sit with it, and discover how you might find yourself within its wisdom.  The Psalmist was correct when he writes, “When the just cry out the Lord hears them and from all their distress God rescues them.”

Sr. Barbara Moore, RSM
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