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Today’s Gospel
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Today's Gospel + image + catechesis

Saturday of the Third Week of Lent

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Gospel text (Lk 18:9-14): Jesus then addressed this parable (...) "Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector". Jesus then addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘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 I 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.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Illustration: Fr. Lluís Raventós Artés

Today Jesus "puts a stop" «to some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else». In the parable the Pharisee sticks his foot in his mouth: «'God!’ I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector». Ridiculous! On the other hand, Jesus praises the attitude of the tax collector who prayed by saying: «'God!' "Have mercy on me, for I am a sinner! ».

-«For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted»." The Father glorified with the resurrection His Son humbled at the Cross.

January 25th
Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle

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