By Naresh Namindla csc
Readings: Hos 6: 1-6; Lk 18: 9-14
Prayer is part and parcel of a Christian life. We pray to God every day. Have we ever listened to our own prayer? Have we paid attention to the words used in our prayer? If not, today is the time to listen to our own prayer. Today is the time to notice the way we pray to God.
The gospel reading of today presents two kinds of people’s prayer: one of a Pharisee and the other, the tax collector. The prayer of a Pharisee is filled with the self-praise and condemnation of the other, whereas the prayer of a tax collector is filled with humility and acknowledging one’s sins.
The tax collector humbled himself before the Lord, accepting his sinful nature and asking for forgiveness of his sins. Indeed, God was pleased with the prayer of the tax collector than the Pharisee.
In today’s first reading, Prophet Hosea compares the people of Israel to a prostitute woman, who was unfaithful to her husband.
He cries out asking them to return to the Lord, for he is patiently waiting to receive them. As God waited patiently for the people of Israel to return to him, this Lenten season reminds us of the need to realize our sinful nature and turn to him with a repentant heart and prayer like the tax collector in the gospel.
Let us learn to pray with humility and sincerity of our hearts to return to the Lord by acknowledging our limitations and weaknesses.