YOU not me

Mar 26, 2022

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Take a moment to read this well-known text. I wonder if you see what I saw for the first time today:

“Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector…The Pharisee stood there and said this prayer to himself, “I thank you, God, that I am not grasping, unjust, adulterous like the rest of mankind… The tax collector stood some distance away, not daring even to raise his eyes to heaven; but he beat his breast and said, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”

I wonder if you noticed what I noticed?

The proud Pharisee “said this prayer to himself” and the humble tax collector beat his breast and addressed God.

And in that simple sentence lies both the problem and the solution: the Pharisee was focussed on himself, the tax collector on God.

All stress in life comes from too much looking at ourselves.

The deep and enduring solution to every stress is found not in ourselves but in God.

The message for me today?

In every situation, turn to Jesus who is God-with-us.

As I write, late Friday evening of the Annunciation, I just come from the hospital bedside of a woman who has faith-fully and patiently suffered poor health for many years.

As I chatted with the family we acknowledged that the possibility of their loved one dying was real.

We talked about matters of life and death, and we prayed at the bedside – the Joyful mysteries of the Rosary for the Feast of the Annunciation, remembering Mary’s words as she turned to God (after initially being puzzled about how all that the angel promised could happen): “Mary said, let what you have said be done to me”.

As we concluded our prayer we remembered Mary’s words, grateful for the reminder to talk not just to ourselves or among ourselves, but to, in every situation, turn to Jesus who is God-with-us.

And let what you have promised us O God, be done to us, for us, through us, and in us.

 

6 Comments

  1. A wonderful reminder for me this morn Thanks Fr John

    Reply
  2. A new slant on “said to himself” – I had thought of it as equivalent to “in his head” or “under his breath”.
    It makes so much more sense to understand that he was praying to himself! Help me dear Lord to become more Jesus-centred rather than self-centred. Thank you for this, John.

    Reply
  3. Nga Mihi

    Father

    Reply
  4. Yes, the sin of Adam has distanced us from God. Let us be generous instead of grasping, let us reach out to God for forgiveness of our injustices, out infidelities. Let us feel the touch of God again.

    Reply
  5. Many thanks John, I so believe that the blessing of,Life in all its fullness depends on where our Focus is, who we are gazing at. Thank you for this timely reminder to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Blessings on you and your Ministry.
    Judith Anne

    Reply
  6. Thank you John for giving me this wonderful prayer – “In every situation, let me turn to Jesus who is God-with-us” !

    Reply

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