October 26, 2025.
“Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:”Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, “God, I thank You that I am not like other men–extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!’I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18, 9-14)
It generally happens that arrogance hides underneath the charm of charity. Thus, for many, the more good things they do, the more conceited they are and the more they judge others because they consider them below themselves. It is a serious lack of humility and, without humility, there is no sainthood. In fact, there are people who seem good and who even do many good things, despite which they are not saintly, because they are full of vanity and arrogance. In truth, they consider themselves superior to the rest and when something injures them or when they feel they haven’t been paid attention to, the immediately become angry and they even become estranged from God. The Gospel of this week invites us to repent and to admit our faults with humility and to give thanks to God for the good things that, with his help, we are capable of doing. Therefore, don’t only give thanks to God for being good, since the Pharisee also did so, but also be conscience that without Him we would not be good and at the same time; do not judge anyone, because only God knows the mystery of the human heart.
Intention: Confess, after examining our conscience and ask forgiveness of God. Give thanks to God for doing something good and do not judge those who do not do it.