Homily 10.26.2025 / 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading from the Book of Sirach (35:12-14, 16-18): The Lord is a judge, and for him the prestige of people does not matter. For him, there is no favoritism against the poor, but he listens to the prayer of the oppressed. He does not despise the supplication of the orphan, nor the widow when she pours out her lament. Whoever serves willingly is well-pleasing, and his prayer rises to the clouds. The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds, and it does not stop until it reaches its destination. It does not desist until the Most High attends to it, judges the righteous, and gives them justice. The Lord will not delay. The Word of the Lord Psalm Psalm 33 (34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23) R/. The afflicted called upon the Lord, and he heard them V/. I bless the Lord at all times; his praise is always on my lips; my soul boasts in the Lord: let the humble hear and rejoice. R/. V/. The Lord faces evildoers, to erase their memory from the earth. When one cries out, the Lord hears them and delivers them from their distress. R/. V/. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, he saves the crushed in spirit. The Lord redeems his servants, and none who take refuge in him will be condemned. R/. Second Reading Reading from the Second Letter of Saint Paul to Timothy (4:6-8, 16-18): Beloved brother: I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing with love. At my first defense, no one stood by me, but all abandoned me. May it not be held against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and heard by all the nations. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will deliver me from every evil work and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. The Word of the Lord Gospel of the Day Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke (18:9-14): At that time, Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves as righteous and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing, prayed thus within himself: ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like other men: thieves, unrighteous, adulterers; nor even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I possess.’ The tax collector, on the other hand, staying at a distance, would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying: ‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’ I tell you, this one went home justified, rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” The Word of the Lord