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30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

October 26, 2025

Fr. John Colacino C.PP.S.

Introit

Collect

Almighty ever-living God,
increase our faith, hope and charity,
and make us love what you command,
so that we may merit what you promise.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading Sir 35:12-14, 16-18

The Lord is the judge, and with him there is no partiality. 16 He will not show partiality to the poor but he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged. 17 The Lord will not ignore the supplication of the orphan, or the widow when she pours out her complaint. 20 The one whose service is pleasing to the Lord will be accepted, and the prayer of such a person will reach to the clouds. 21 The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds, and it will not rest until it reaches its goal; it will not desist until the Most High responds 22 and does justice for the righteous, and executes judgment. Indeed, the Lord will not delay.

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

R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

Second Reading 2 Tm 4:6-8, 16-18

As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 16 At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Acclamation before the Gospel 2 Cor 5:19

Gospel Lk 18:9-14

Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and regarded others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ 13 “But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 “I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Catena Nova

The stern Pharisee, who in his overweening pride, not only boasted of himself but also discredited the tax collector, in the Presence of God, made his justice void by being guilty of pride. Instead of the Pharisee, the tax collector went down justified because he had given glory to God, the Holy One. He did not dare lift his eyes but sought only to plead for mercy. He accused himself by his posture, by striking his breast and by entertaining no other motive, except propitiation. Be on your guard, therefore and bear in mind, this example of severe loss, sustained through arrogance.The one guilty of insolent behaviour suffered the loss of his justice and forfeited his reward, by his bold self-reliance. He was judged inferior to a humble man and a sinner because, in his self-exaltation, he did not await the judgement of God but pronounced it himself. Never place yourself above anyone, not even great sinners. Humility often saves a sinner, who has committed many terrible transgressions! (St. Basil the Great)

Why does humility raise us to the heights of holiness? The present parable is sufficient proof; for the tax collector, in spite of his profession and of having lived in the depths of sin, joins the ranks of those living upright lives through a single prayer, and that a short one; he is relieved of his burden of sin, he is lifted up, he rises above all evil, and is admitted to the company of the righteous, justified by the impartial Judge himself. The Pharisee, on the other hand, is condemned by his prayer in spite of being a Pharisee, and in his own eyes a person of importance. Because his “righteousness” is false and his insolence extreme, every syllable he utters provokes God’s anger. But why does humility raise us to the heights of holiness, and self-conceit plunge us into the abyss of sin? It is because when we have a high regard for ourselves, and that in the presence of God, he quite reasonably abandons us, since we think we have no need of his assistance. But when we regard ourselves as nothing and therefore look to heaven for mercy, it is not unreasonable that we should obtain God’s compassion, help, and grace. For as Scripture says: “The Lord resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” …. Humility is the chariot in which the ascent to God is made upon the clouds that are to carry up to him those destined to be with God for endless ages…. For humility is like a cloud. Produced by repentance, it draws streams of tears from the eyes, makes unworthy people worthy, and raises up and presents to God those freely justified by reason of their right dispositions. (St. Gregory Palamas)

Boastful am I, and hard of heart, all in vain and for nothing. Condemn me not with the Pharisee, but rather grant unto me the humility of the Publican, O only merciful and just Judge, and number me with him. (St. Andrew of Crete)

Now all of us are sinners, all of us have need to come to God as the Publican did; every one, if he does but search his heart, and watch his conduct, and try to do his duty, will find himself to be full of sins which provoke God's wrath. I do not mean to say that all men are equally sinners; some are wilful sinners, and of them there is no hope, till they repent; others sin, but they try to avoid sinning, pray to God to make them better, and come to Church to be made better; but all men are quite sinners enough to make it their duty to behave as the Publican. Every one ought to come into Church as the Publican did, to say in his heart, "Lord, I am not worthy to enter this sacred place; my only plea for coming is the merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour." (St. John Henry Newman)

Asceticism is utterly useless if it turns us into freaks. The cornerstone of all asceticism is humility, and Christian humility is first of all a matter of supernatural common sense. It teaches us to take ourselves as we are, instead of pretending (as pride would have us imagine) that we are something better than we are. If we really know ourselves we quietly take our proper place in the order designed by God. And so supernatural humility adds much to our human dignity by integrating us in the society of other men and placing us in our right relation to them and to God. Pride makes us artificial, and humility makes us real.… It is supreme humility to see that ordinary life, embraced with perfect faith, can be more saintly and more supernatural than a spectacular ascetical career. Such humility dares to be ordinary, and that is something beyond the reach of spiritual pride. Pride always longs to be unusual. Humility not so. Humility finds all its peace in hope, knowing that Christ must come again to elevate and transfigure ordinary things and fill them with His glory. (Thomas Merton)

The Gospel of the two men praying in the temple, the Pharisee and the tax collector, reveals to what kind of prayer penetrates to God. We notice a difference even in their respective postures. The one stands “with unbowed head” as if the temple belongs to him, while the other “keeps his distance,” as if he has crossed the threshold of a house in which he really does not belong. The first one prays “to himself,” really, not even praying to God but reviewing for himself the list of his virtues assuming that, when God Himself notices them, He will respect them and marvel at them. Moreover, this man catalogues his virtues as a means of setting himself off from “other men,” none of whom have attained his level of perfection. He is traveling the road of “self-discovery,” which is precisely the path of “loss of God.” The other man can only discover sin in himself, can only find himself devoid of God, which, as he pleads, “be merciful to me,” turns into an empty place for God to occupy. No-one, whose ultimate goal is his own perfection, will ever find God. Anyone who has the humility to permit God’s perfection to take effect in his emptiness – not by being passive but by working with the talent He gives him – will be considered a “justified” person in the sight of God. (Hans Urs von Balthasar)

The Law did not make anyone righteous; it only taught all those who were under it that they were not righteous, and thus revealed negatively the righteousness of God…. The Law, which should have served to teach us that ‘all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Rom v. 23), frequently serves as a way of our dividing the world into good and bad, of our separating it into those who follow the Law and those who do not. The person who, owing to his observance of the Law, is in a position to judge others as bad (that is, considers himself made righteous by the Law) reveals that the Law does not get to the heart of man. Such a person has his identity, his ‘me,’ still constituted on the basis of victimizing, of expelling, of separation. Being convinced of the right-ness (and righteousness) of his position, it is very much more difficult for him to receive the dependence on what is other than him of the constitution of his ‘me,’ and thus have his ‘me’ transformed, have it healed from its dependence on persecution. Here it is apparent that Paul’s teaching on the Law is identical with Jesus’ practice in relation to the ‘Pharisees,’ his evident predilection for sinners, and such parables as that of the tax collector and the Pharisee in the Temple (Lk 18:10-14). (James Alison)

Homily

The winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize is Maria Corina Marchado the Venezuelan opposition leader working to restore democracy in Venezuela. Upon hearing the news, she commented, “Oh my God. Well, I have no words… Thank you so much, but I hope you understand that this is a movement — an achievement of the whole society. I am just one person. I certainly do not deserve this.… I’m humbled, I’m grateful and I’m honoured.” Those are gracious words. Even more gracious was the reported conversation she had with the president of the United States who lobbied for himself to win the award. Marchado, it is claimed, said to him, "I'm accepting this in honor of you, because you really deserved it." I wonder who the Prince of Peace might commend who said in more than one place in the gospels, The one who humbles himself will be exalted.

What should the rest of us do then? Refuse the promotion, throw the game, return the scholarship, pitch the pennant? Of course not! Taking pride in one's achievements has nothing to do with that pharisee who went to the temple to boast of his own righteousness (G).

Unfortunately, the English language lacks a distinction found in other tongues. For example, in Italian the word orgoglio is just that — legitimate pride without a hint of the other word — superbia — which is the kind of haughtiness we see in the pharisee. Not seeing the difference is one reason humility has a bad name. Some people think humble people would prefer the woodwork to the wall, where you fade instead of flourish. Or that humility would never take a place in the sun, when the shadows would do.

Did you ever see the movie Fried Green Tomatoes? It’s the story of a woman who’s the perfect Southern wife, always trying to please others, (mostly her husband )—not a bone of self-assertion in her body. `Til she meets an older woman in a nursing home who tells her stories of courageous women like herself, women who rebelled against stereotypes of submission. Women who found power and freedom in a culture that kept strength and liberty in the hands of a few. Something like the woman described in the Book of Sirach, writing of the oppressed crying, the orphan wailing, the widow complaining: cries, however, that God hears, wails to which the Lord is not deaf. For the Lord is a God of justice (cf. I). Oh no, humility isn’t submission to others, who’d take your rights, your dignity, your self-esteem. And it wasn’t humility that woman in the movie lost when she heard stories of fried green tomatoes.

So what is humility? Well, the word comes from humus--the clay of the earth--the stuff we’re made from, says the Bible. Humility reminds us of where we come from, and where we’re going. It has to do with truth. The truth that all good things come from God. That we have no cause to boast like that foolish pharisee. going around despising everyone else, telling God we’re not like the rest of humanity (G). Truth is, we're just like everyone else. We come from the same clay, and just like everyone else, the ground will claim us all again. For God knows no favorites (I).

Still, that’s only half the truth. True, “without God, we are nothing.” But it’s also true “with God, we are everything.” Paul himself said so: “I have the strength for everything through [God] who empowers me” (Phil. 4:13). And Paul knew that truth like never before when his departure was at hand. Facing trial and execution, Paul even sounds like he’s boasting — with orgoglio — when he says, I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. He proudly states — without superbia — he is sure of salvation: From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day.

But not the crown of righteousness that pharisee felt worthy of winning. Why not? 'Cause Paul knew his justice came, not from himself, but from the Lord, who stood by [him] and gave [him] strength, so that through [Paul] the proclamation [of the gospel] might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it (cf. II).

And that’s getting to the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Humility isn’t about hiding your talents and achievements, or putting yourself down, staying in the background, bowing and scraping to others. It means winning the Series, if you’re the best team, and exulting in the fact. (I'm rooting for the Blue Jays!) While never forgetting we are — Paul again — vessels of clay and our boasting is always in the Lord (cf. 2 Cor. 4:7).

In other words, it means learning to fry green tomatoes, or whatever it takes, to come out of the shadows and take your place in the sun. It means putting to use all God gives you, accepting yourself with all your strengths and limits. It means giving credit where credit is due: to God at last, in whom we boast, even of our weakness, for the Lord has made clay into God’s image and likeness — just as bread and wine are transformed into the flesh and blood of Christ. So that whatever is done by us in God's service may be directed above all to God's glory (cf. Prayer over the Offerings) To God then be the glory forever and ever. Amen (cf. II).

Intercessions (Joe Milner; The Sunday Web Site)

For the Church: that we may recognize our need for God and resist relying upon our own efforts to justify ourselves.

For all who are bound by a spirit of self-righteousness: that God will free their hearts, break down the walls of prejudice, and open them to the dignity of each person.

For all leaders of government, nationally, regionally, and municipally: that God will inspire them with new ways to promote the welfare of citizens and the common good.

For all who are in need; for the poor, the homeless, the widow, the orphan and those on the margins of society: that God will open our eyes and hearts to their needs and their presence in our communities.

For all who are recovering from storms, floods or wildfires: that God will give them courage and guide them to the assistance which they need.

For all immigrants and refugees: that they may find new homes and enrich these places with their gifts and talents.

For all who are bound by drug addiction: that God will break the bonds that hold them, help them to seek assistance and guide them to people who will support and challenge them to live in a new way.

For the gift of peace and an end to violence: that God will turn hearts from violence, inspire leaders to start new initiatives and give courage to all who are working for peace.

O God, who alone can probe the depths of the heart, you hear the prayer of the humble and justify the repentant sinner. As we stand before you, grant us the gift of humility, that we may see our own sins clearly and refrain from judging our neighbour. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. (ICEL; 1998)

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