Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C 2022

Title

I Have Finished the Race

Outline

In both Priests’ Convocations I have attended we have remembered deceased priests

In Austin it was the deceased priests of the past year

In the Ordinariate it was the 5 deceased priests of the past decade

And then I could add in the remembrance of Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza of Galveston-Houston

It is both a memento mori for us and a prayer for our deceased brothers

And, of course, as I am well-aware that at least one of the Ordinariate priests was a couple years younger than I at death

What does this say to us?

First, remember “Those who serve God to please him are accepted” - not just within this temporal life, which is Sirach’s meaning, but at the end of life

So, the question is, “What does it mean to serve God to please him?

Jesus points to a Pharisee and a tax collector. The first prayed comparing himself to others who were not as pious as he - and indeed he had a lot appropriate piety. And he is thankful for that - at some level he views it as a gift from God.

The tax collector prayed by comparing himself to God. There is no mention of others nor of his good deed, but only ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ Jesus comments that he was declared just, for “for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” To come naked before God is to know that one is a sinner and yet if one knows God one knows that one receives his mercy.

Paul puts it together, for he knows that he is close to death

It is all about trust in God: “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance.” He will mention others, but only to pray for them. The race was a gift, the strength to compete was a gift, he keeping the faith, i.e. his trust in Jesus, was a gift. The crown is a gift. Paul is simply among the “all who have longed for his appearance,” those who have trust in Jesus, and said yes to God’s grace.

Sisters, this is something to meditate on often

We say memento mori, and even when one is young that is important. But there is something more important: remember Jesus and his grace and love, long for him, keep stretching out to him, forget about those who might try to hinder you or simply neglect you, keep that longed for one before one’s eyes, doing in his strength what pleases him, i.e. the deeds of love that he gives us to do.

Then we will reach the finish line with confidence. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear and lot of distracting influences along the way.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 10-23-2022: Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

Sirach 35:12–14, 16–18

15 Do not trust in sacrifice of the fruits of extortion,

For he is a God of justice,

who shows no partiality.

16 He shows no partiality to the weak

but hears the grievance of the oppressed.

17 He does not forsake the cry of the orphan,

nor the widow when she pours out her complaint.

20 Those who serve God to please him are accepted;

their petition reaches the clouds.

21 The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds;

it does not rest till it reaches its goal;

Nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds,

22 judges justly and affirms the right.

God indeed will not delay,

and like a warrior, will not be still

Till he breaks the backs of the merciless

Catholic Daily Readings 10-23-2022: Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 34:7a

7 This poor one cried out and the LORD heard,

and from all his distress he saved him.

PSALM

Psalm 34:2–3, 17–19, 23

2 I will bless the LORD at all times;

his praise shall be always in my mouth.

3 My soul will glory in the LORD;

let the poor hear and be glad.

17 The LORD’s face is against evildoers

to wipe out their memory from the earth.

18 The righteous cry out, the LORD hears

and he rescues them from all their afflictions.

19 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted,

saves those whose spirit is crushed.

23 The LORD is the redeemer of the souls of his servants;

and none are condemned who take refuge in him.

Catholic Daily Readings 10-23-2022: Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SECOND READING

2 Timothy 4:6–8, 16–18

6  For I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. 8 From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance.

16 At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Catholic Daily Readings 10-23-2022: Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

2 Corinthians 5:19

19 namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

GOSPEL

Luke 18:9–14

9 He then addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. 10 “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. 11 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. 12 I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ 13 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.’ 14 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.”

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 10-23-2022: Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2022 | ORDINARY TIME

THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR C | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Sirach 35:12–14, 16–18

Response Psalm 34:7a

Psalm Psalm 34:2–3, 17–19, 23

Second Reading 2 Timothy 4:6–8, 16–18

Gospel Acclamation 2 Corinthians 5:19

Gospel Luke 18:9–14

GREEN