This morning's General Audience began at 10:00am in Saint Peter's Square where the Holy Father, Pope Francis met with groups of pilgrims and the faithful from Italy and from every other part of the world.
During his speech, the Pope continued his meditation on mercy from the biblical perspective, focusing on the parable of the Pharisee and the publican (tax collector) (Lk 18:10-11, 13-14).
Having summarized his catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father addressed particular greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance.
The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic Blessing.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Last Wednesday, we heard the parable of the judge and the widow, concerning the necessity for persistent prayer. Today, with another parable, Jesus teaches us the proper attitude for prayer and how to call upon the mercy of the Father; how we should pray, the right attitude for prayer. This is the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (cf Lk 18:9-14).
They both go up to the temple to pray, but they react in very different ways and they end up with opposite results. The Pharisee prays: standing on his feet (Lk 18:11), and uses many words. Yes, he utters a prayer of thanksgiving addressed to God, but in reality it is a tribute to his own merits, with a sense of superiority over other men who he describes as thieves, unjust and adulterers, as for example - and he pointed out the other person who was there - this tax collector (Lk 8:11). But this was precisely the problem: the Pharisee prayed to God, but in truth he was only concerned about himself. He prayed to himself! Instead of standing before the eyes of God, he was standing in front of a mirror. Even though he was standing in the temple, he did not feel the need to prostrate himself before the majesty of God; he stayed standing, he felt sure of himself, as though he was the boss of the temple! He listed the good things he had done: he was irreproachable, observant of the Law even beyond what he was required to do, he fasted twice a week and he payed one tenth of all that he possessed. In short, more than prayer, the Pharisee was concerned with observing the precepts. Yet, his attitude and his words were far from the proper way of speaking about God, who loves everyone and who does not despise the sinner. On the contrary, that Pharisee despised sinners, even the one he pointed out, the one who was there. The Pharisee, who thought of himself as righteous, really neglected the most important commandment: love for God and for our neighbours.
Therefore, it is not enough to ask ourselves how much we pray; we must also ask ourselves how we pray, or better, how our heart is: it is important to examine ourselves, to evaluate our thoughts, our feelings, and to remove all arrogance and hypocrisy. But, I ask you: is it possible to pray with arrogance? No. Can a person pray with hypocrisy? No. We must always pray by putting ourselves before God as we are, not like the Pharisee who prayed with arrogance and hypocrisy. We all fall prey to a frenetic daily rhythm of life, often at the mercy of sensationalism, and we are often bewildered and confused. We must learn to rediscover the way to our hearts, to recover the value of intimacy and silence, because it is there that God meets us and speaks to us. Only by beginning from there can we in turn encounter others and speak with them. The Pharisee went to the Temple, he was sure of himself, but he did not realize that he had lost the way of his heart.
On the other hand, the tax collector presented himself in the Temple with a humble and repentant spirit: “Standing far off, he would not even lift up his eyes to Heaven, but rather, he beat his breast (Lk 8:13). His prayer was very brief, it was not as long as that of the Pharisee: God, be merciful to me a sinner! — nothing more, a beautiful prayer! In fact, the tax collectors, also known as Publicans, were considered impure persons, subject to foreign dominators, they were not regarded well by the people and in general, they were associated with sinners. The parable teaches that we are just or we are sinners, not because of our social belonging, but by the way that we relate to God and by the way we relate to one another. The Publican’s gestures of penance and his few and simple words attest to his awareness of his miserable condition. His prayer is essential. He acts humbly, certain only of being a sinner in need of mercy. If the Pharisee did not ask for anything because he already had everything, the Publican could only beg for God’s mercy. And this is beautiful: to beg for God’s mercy! Presenting himself with empty hands, with a naked heart and acknowledging himself to be a sinner, the Publican shows all of us the necessary condition to receive the Lord’s forgiveness. In the end, he who in fact was so scorned becomes an icon of the true believer.
Jesus ends the parable with a sentence: I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted (Lk 8:14). Of these two, who is the one who is corrupt? The Pharisee. The Pharisee is in fact the icon of the corrupt one who pretends to pray, but only succeeds in strutting in front of a mirror. He is corrupt and pretends to pray. So, in life, one who believes himself just and judges others and scorns them, is corrupt and hypocritical. Arrogance compromises every good action, empties prayer, distances us from God and from others. If God favours humility, it is not to humiliate us: rather humility is the necessary condition to be raised by Him, so as to experience the mercy that comes to fill our emptiness. If the prayer of the arrogant does not reach God’s heart, the humility of the miserable one opens it wide. God has a weakness: a weakness for the humble. Before a humble heart, God opens His heart totally. It is this humility that the Virgin Mary expressed in the canticle of the Magnificat: He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden … His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation (Luke 1:48.50). May she, our Mother, help us to pray with a humble heart, and let us repeat three times that beautiful prayer: O God, have mercy on me a sinner.
The Holy Father's teaching was then summarized in various languages, and His Holiness offered greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance. To English-speaking pilgrims, he said:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly those from England, Ireland, Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Vietnam, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Nigeria, Canada and the United States of America. With prayerful good wishes that the present Jubilee of Mercy will be a moment of grace and spiritual renewal for you and your families, I invoke upon all of you joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.
During his speech, the Pope continued his meditation on mercy from the biblical perspective, focusing on the parable of the Pharisee and the publican (tax collector) (Lk 18:10-11, 13-14).
Having summarized his catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father addressed particular greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance.
The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic Blessing.
Catechesis of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the General Audience
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Last Wednesday, we heard the parable of the judge and the widow, concerning the necessity for persistent prayer. Today, with another parable, Jesus teaches us the proper attitude for prayer and how to call upon the mercy of the Father; how we should pray, the right attitude for prayer. This is the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (cf Lk 18:9-14).
They both go up to the temple to pray, but they react in very different ways and they end up with opposite results. The Pharisee prays: standing on his feet (Lk 18:11), and uses many words. Yes, he utters a prayer of thanksgiving addressed to God, but in reality it is a tribute to his own merits, with a sense of superiority over other men who he describes as thieves, unjust and adulterers, as for example - and he pointed out the other person who was there - this tax collector (Lk 8:11). But this was precisely the problem: the Pharisee prayed to God, but in truth he was only concerned about himself. He prayed to himself! Instead of standing before the eyes of God, he was standing in front of a mirror. Even though he was standing in the temple, he did not feel the need to prostrate himself before the majesty of God; he stayed standing, he felt sure of himself, as though he was the boss of the temple! He listed the good things he had done: he was irreproachable, observant of the Law even beyond what he was required to do, he fasted twice a week and he payed one tenth of all that he possessed. In short, more than prayer, the Pharisee was concerned with observing the precepts. Yet, his attitude and his words were far from the proper way of speaking about God, who loves everyone and who does not despise the sinner. On the contrary, that Pharisee despised sinners, even the one he pointed out, the one who was there. The Pharisee, who thought of himself as righteous, really neglected the most important commandment: love for God and for our neighbours.
Therefore, it is not enough to ask ourselves how much we pray; we must also ask ourselves how we pray, or better, how our heart is: it is important to examine ourselves, to evaluate our thoughts, our feelings, and to remove all arrogance and hypocrisy. But, I ask you: is it possible to pray with arrogance? No. Can a person pray with hypocrisy? No. We must always pray by putting ourselves before God as we are, not like the Pharisee who prayed with arrogance and hypocrisy. We all fall prey to a frenetic daily rhythm of life, often at the mercy of sensationalism, and we are often bewildered and confused. We must learn to rediscover the way to our hearts, to recover the value of intimacy and silence, because it is there that God meets us and speaks to us. Only by beginning from there can we in turn encounter others and speak with them. The Pharisee went to the Temple, he was sure of himself, but he did not realize that he had lost the way of his heart.
On the other hand, the tax collector presented himself in the Temple with a humble and repentant spirit: “Standing far off, he would not even lift up his eyes to Heaven, but rather, he beat his breast (Lk 8:13). His prayer was very brief, it was not as long as that of the Pharisee: God, be merciful to me a sinner! — nothing more, a beautiful prayer! In fact, the tax collectors, also known as Publicans, were considered impure persons, subject to foreign dominators, they were not regarded well by the people and in general, they were associated with sinners. The parable teaches that we are just or we are sinners, not because of our social belonging, but by the way that we relate to God and by the way we relate to one another. The Publican’s gestures of penance and his few and simple words attest to his awareness of his miserable condition. His prayer is essential. He acts humbly, certain only of being a sinner in need of mercy. If the Pharisee did not ask for anything because he already had everything, the Publican could only beg for God’s mercy. And this is beautiful: to beg for God’s mercy! Presenting himself with empty hands, with a naked heart and acknowledging himself to be a sinner, the Publican shows all of us the necessary condition to receive the Lord’s forgiveness. In the end, he who in fact was so scorned becomes an icon of the true believer.
Jesus ends the parable with a sentence: I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted (Lk 8:14). Of these two, who is the one who is corrupt? The Pharisee. The Pharisee is in fact the icon of the corrupt one who pretends to pray, but only succeeds in strutting in front of a mirror. He is corrupt and pretends to pray. So, in life, one who believes himself just and judges others and scorns them, is corrupt and hypocritical. Arrogance compromises every good action, empties prayer, distances us from God and from others. If God favours humility, it is not to humiliate us: rather humility is the necessary condition to be raised by Him, so as to experience the mercy that comes to fill our emptiness. If the prayer of the arrogant does not reach God’s heart, the humility of the miserable one opens it wide. God has a weakness: a weakness for the humble. Before a humble heart, God opens His heart totally. It is this humility that the Virgin Mary expressed in the canticle of the Magnificat: He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden … His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation (Luke 1:48.50). May she, our Mother, help us to pray with a humble heart, and let us repeat three times that beautiful prayer: O God, have mercy on me a sinner.
The Holy Father's teaching was then summarized in various languages, and His Holiness offered greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance. To English-speaking pilgrims, he said:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly those from England, Ireland, Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Vietnam, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Nigeria, Canada and the United States of America. With prayerful good wishes that the present Jubilee of Mercy will be a moment of grace and spiritual renewal for you and your families, I invoke upon all of you joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.
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