Homily: October 26, 2025, Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

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 “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.”

Last week’s readings touched on the theme of prayer, this theme continues in our readings this Sunday.

Throughout the week, I often see people coming quietly into our church to pray during different times of the day. Some light candles, some kneel before the statue of Our Lady of the World, and some just sit before the tabernacle in silence. A few come from nearby offices during their break from work to spend a few minutes with Jesus or with Mary. There are also those who are homeless, some are patients or their visitors from the hospitals. Different states of life, different prayer intentions, yet all come with faith in God. This is truly a house of prayer. All are welcome.

As proclaimed in the first reading, God has no favorites. Rich or poor, young or old, well or sick, strong or weak, God welcomes all and hears all prayers. He listens to the humility and sincerity in our prayers. He sees the intentions and desires in our hearts. This is the same God who heard the prayers of Solomon and David, Hagar and Esther, and the poor widow. His heart moves with pity, compassion and love for those who come to Him broken and open, eager to be connected, eager to receive, eager to be enlightened.

However, in the Gospel parable, Jesus invites us to look at another prayer situation. We all can see how the Pharisee’s prayer was filled with pride. Was he eager to connect with God? Was he eager to receive from God? Was he eager to be enlightened?

No. He was more eager to showcase himself than to connect with God, he was too full of himself to be able to receive anything from God, and he thought so well of himself that he probably didn’t think he needed God’s enlightenment.

If we read carefully again, his words were directed to himself and not to God. He was speaking his own praises for himself to hear and bloat his pride further. He had no true intention to pray, no humility, no sincerity. For him, prayer was a formality, a routine, to be seen by others.

Did God hear him? Yes, but he did not hear God.

It is easy to see what others are doing wrong, even in their praying. Many of us run the same danger, especially when we pray without conscious intention, it becomes a routine, a habit, even a chore. The external praying action switches on and off, without depth, without intention.

Even priests and religious can fall into the same trap of routine prayer action. Saying the words but without the heart.

The tax collector, on the other hand, came before God with humility. He was aware of his sins, his weaknesses, and his need for mercy. He considered himself unworthy and in need of God. He prayed simply and sincerely, “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” That simple prayer reached heaven, connected with God and opened the way for God’s mercy to flow.

Let us now look at ourselves. What does God see?

Are you intentional in your worship and prayer? Are you here just to fulfill your Sunday obligation, or is your heart broken and open for God to fill? Do you come to tell Him what you need, to thank Him, to ask for His forgiveness or are you here to clock in your attendance and feel satisfied with yourself? Are your prayers more like the Pharisee’s or similar to the tax collector’s?

At every moment of Mass today, especially during the offertory, show and present your true intentions to Jesus. Offer everything in your heart and mind, good and bad to Jesus. Be real, be transparent, be true. The problems you cannot resolve, the sins you are struggling with, the ways of the world that robbed you of peace, offer them all to God with faith.

And do not just see yourself but see others in the same compassionate light too. Offer those in need of God’s mercy, to the Lord.

And remember once again the promise we heard in the first reading: “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.”

Let your prayer today be humble, sincere, and real, speak to God but hear Him too. Be broken and open to receive and be enlightened. Amen.

 


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