The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods are a community of vowed Catholic women religious. Inspired by our foundress Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, we are passionate about our lives of prayer, education, service and advocacy.
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The readings for this Sunday are about, justice, justice, justice!!! The first reading from Sirach proclaims, “The LORD is a God of justice who knows no favorites.” God hears the cry of the oppressed and is not deaf to the wail of the orphan, nor to the widow when she pours out her heart. Those who serve God willingly are heard and their cries reach the heavens. The prayer of the marginalized pierces the clouds and does not rest till it reaches the Most High who judges justly. They have their right to justice. The Lord will not delay.
In case we didn’t hear it in Sirach,the Responsorial Psalm brings it home in one line: “The Lord hears the cry of the poor!!” To follow Jesus, we are to hear and respond to the cries of the poor: Those who can’t feed their children; those who can’t afford medical care; those who live surrounded by violence; those who suffer from prejudice and are judged and fearful because of the color of their skin. “The Lord hears the cry of the poor! The Lord confronts the evildoers, for the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and those who are crushed in spirit He saves.”
The portrait of one of the suffering poor is presented in 2 Timothy: Timothy says of his suffering, possibly to his death, words we will recognize, “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.” I was rescued from the mouth of the lion. The Lord will rescue me and bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom. Those who work for justice and bring the words of the Lord to life, like Timothy, often pay a very large price. What am I willing to pay?
“Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. God is reconciling the world to himself through Christ, and entrusting to us Christ’s message of salvation”. (To simplify: that message of salvation means that we do as Jesus taught us: live with justice, mercy, love and compassion,)
Our Gospel today is from our friend, Luke. He has spoken to us on each of these four Sundays and there will be more ahead. This parable is addressed to the part of every one of us that sometimes believes we are better than other people. The parable even says this is addressed to those who believe in their own righteousness. As the parable unfolds, we have the Pharisee taking up his position and saying those famous words. “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 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.” And then Jesus utters those rather scary words, “The tax collector went home justified, forgiven; but not the Pharisee! Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself, shall be exalted.” This parable really makes me wonder about Jesus’ speaking so forcefully to the Pharisee who was presenting such a wonderful picture of himself Did Jesus know more about him than he thought? Maybe Jesus knew his heart, and recognized that wonderful words don’t substitute for a heart full of gratitude and genuine love. We are usually not totally the Pharisee, nor the humble tax collector.
Action
Some homework: What percentage of each of these attitudes in this parable do you think you might be on most days? 20/80, 50/50, 60/40 or?
Sister Ann Sullivan, SP, has been a Sister of Providence since 1964. Her primary ministry through those years has been teaching, grades one through graduate level. She presently ministers as a consultant. She has also ministered as director of a mental health center and was founding director of White Violet Center for Eco-Justice.
In her free time you will find Sister Ann enjoying nature in as many ways as possible, especially working in a large perennial and a small vegetable garden. She also values time with family and friends.
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