Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 150

Reading 1 SIR 35:12-14, 16-18

The LORD is a God of justice,
who knows no favorites.
Though not unduly partial toward the weak,
yet he hears the cry of the oppressed.
The Lord is not deaf to the wail of the orphan,
nor to the widow when she pours out her complaint.
The one who serves God willingly is heard;
his petition reaches the heavens.
The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds;
it does not rest till it reaches its goal,
nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds,
judges justly and affirms the right,
and the Lord will not delay.

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

R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the Lord hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

Reading 2 2 TM 4:6-8, 16-18

Beloved:
I am already being poured out like a libation,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have competed well; I have finished the race;
I have kept the faith.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,
which the Lord, the just judge,
will award to me on that day, and not only to me,
but to all who have longed for his appearance.

At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf,
but everyone deserted me.
May it not be held against them!
But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength,
so that through me the proclamation might be completed
and all the Gentiles might hear it.
And I was rescued from the lion's mouth.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat
and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom.
To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Gospel LK 18:9-14

Jesus addressed this parable
to those who were convinced of their own righteousness
and despised everyone else.
"Two people went up to the temple area to pray;
one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,
'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity --
greedy, dishonest, adulterous -- or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’
But the tax collector stood off at a distance
and would not even raise his eyes to heaven
but beat his breast and prayed,
'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.'
I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;
for whoever exalts himself will be humbled,
and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

Gospel Reading: Luke 18:9-14

Jesus continues his teaching on prayer from last Sunday’s gospel (Luke 18:1-8).

Two opposite types are presented here. Pharisees were respected as meticulous interpreters and keepers of the law. Furthermore, by their code of “separateness,” especially regarding non-Jews, they were admired as non-compromisers with the occupying Romans (Pharisee is from the Hebrew perushim—“separated ones”).

Tax collectors, on the other hand, were often dishonest and were considered collaborators with the Romans besides. They were often mentioned in the same breath as “other sinners” (Luke 5:27-32, 19:7; Matthew 18:17).

As he often does, Jesus turns the assumptions of his listeners completely around. The prayer of the “holy” Pharisee accomplishes two things: it focuses on himself as the center of his prayer, and leads him to despise others. The prayer of the tax collector, however, is a prayer of humility and dependence on God (Psalm 51:1-4; Daniel 9:18; CCC 2559, 2839). Jesus points out only one “went home justified.”

QUESTIONS:

In the First Reading, the writer lists roughly five types of people whose prayer the Lord is especially attentive to: who are they? Do you—or could you—fit into any of these categories?

In the Second Reading, despite his hardships and disappointments, to what is St. Paul looking forward to? In what (and in whom) does he place his confidence?

In the Gospel reading, to whom did Jesus direct his parable?

What group of people would be the Pharisees today? The tax collectors? What would be the “Pharisee’s prayer?”

Why might it be dangerous to compare your practice of the faith to that of others?

How does this parable complement the one we heard last week on persistence (vv 1-8)? How do both demonstrate faith?

When have you been like the Pharisee? The tax collector? What accounts for the difference?

Right now, knowing your attitude toward others, who are you most like?

How do you walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8. See 1 Peter 5:5; James 4:6)?

Bible Study-30th Sunday in Ordinary Time-Cycle C



Closing Prayer

Catechism of the Catholic Church:  §§ 2559, 2513, 588, 2631, 2667, 2839