Gospel: October 26, 2025

October 26, 2025 (Sunday)

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalter: Week 2 / (Green)

Ps 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

1st Reading: Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18

2nd Reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

Gospel: Luke 18:9-14

Jesus told another parable to some people, fully convinced of their own righteousness, who looked down on others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself, and said, ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people, grasping, crooked, adulterous, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and give a tenth of all my income to the temple.’ In the meantime, the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’

I tell you, when this man went back to his house, he had been reconciled with God, but not the other. For whoever makes himself out to be great will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be raised up.”

Lectio Divina:

“Our prayer is to be honest and God-centered.”

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Read: Sirach teaches the importance of humble prayer. Saint Paul reflects on his faithful ministry and on eternal life. Jesus preaches the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector.

Reflect: ‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’ Eastern Christianity makes much use of the phrase of the tax collector. His phrase is joined to the words of Saint Peter to become “Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” The “Jesus Prayer” is a simple, honest prayer, which acknowledges our sins, but always in conjunction with a humble petition for Christ’s loving mercy. Frequent repetition of the prayer allows us to think of our relationship with Christ and how it needs to be healed. Unlike the Pharisee’s prayer, which is self-congratulatory, the tax collector’s prayer is honest and God-centered, and because of that, he can see how he needs to change. Just as our prayer is to be honest and God-centered, so our proclamation of the Kingdom in word and deed must reflect that honesty and divine focus. We are a missionary Church, and our message will be far more effective if we adopt the tax collector’s humble, authentic attitude.

Pray: Take some time today to pray the Jesus Prayer.

Act: After deeds of charity, reflect on how genuine your love has been.