26 October 2025, 30th Sunday "C”
Sir 35, 12...18; 2 Tim 4, 10...18; Luke 18, 9-14
Homily
Luke tells us that the Pharisee and the Publican both went up to the Temple to pray. Even the Pharisee really prayed, and his prayer could well be considered humble. It is true that he is aware of his righteousness, but he knows that it is a gift from God. He thanks God for the grace he has received to be a righteous man: "My God, I thank you because I am not like other men... I fast twice a week and I pay a tenth of all I earn.” In reality, his attitude is not very different from that of Paul in the letter to Timothy: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith..." As for the Publican, he does not even dare to raise his eyes to heaven. He simply sais: "God, have mercy on this sinner!"