Meetings between Popes and Monarchs are not unusual – there have been many in history. However, when Pope Leo XIV, King Charles III and Queen Camilla met this week, it made history for one important reason – it was the first time since the 16th century that a Pope and a British Monarch prayed together at an ecumenical service. Despite their differences in traditions and beliefs – they came together united in prayer. Prayer for these figures is common ground – a ground on which to build upon their relationship with each other and with God.
Our Gospel this week, the Pharisee and the tax-collector stood on common ground – they both came to the same place to pray. But this is where they show their differences. The Pharisee prayed “I thank you, God, that I am not grasping, unjust, adulterous like the rest of mankind, and particularly that I am not like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes on all I get.” The Pharisee entered prayer from the worst possible position, pride. If pride is the reason to pray, we would only pray when things are going well. It is only natural we present only good things before others. The same attitude before God is not what prayer is about. Prayer is about faithfulness rather than success.
The Pharisee’s good works shouldn’t go unnoticed. Good works should be an occasion for thanksgiving, instead, it was used to belittle and berate what was obvious. The Pharisee was also presented with an occasion to exercise charity for others praying for a change of heart. This is not to say he is better off not being a sinner. St Monica would pray for her son for a change of heart.
The tax collector, on the other hand, makes an admission “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” The tax-collector teaches us something about prayer. Prayer is making ourselves vulnerable before God. If we never experience vulnerability before God, would we ever experience intimacy?
The important prayer for us is the Mass. Throughout the Mass, we pray with the same attitude: immediately after the Introductory Rites, we acknowledge our sin, by the words “I confess to Almighty God…” and “Lord, have mercy… .” At the Communion Rite, we pray the Our Father with the words “forgive us our trespasses.” At the Lamb of God, we say “You take away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.” Before we receive Communion, the words “Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed”
Let our vulnerability unite us in prayer.
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Ray says:
“Let our vulnerability unite us in prayer.” Thank you for this, Fr Hoang.