Dear sisters and brothers,  Let us humble ourselves always. Don't wait for others and God to humble us.  Fr. Cielo

1. Welcome to our Bible Study
30th
Sunday in Ordinary Time C
23 October 2016
In preparation for this Sunday’s liturgy
As aid in focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

2. 1st
reading: Sirach 35,12-14.16-18
 12 The Lord is a God of justice, who knows no
favorites. 13 Though not unduly partial toward
the weak, yet he hears the cry of the oppressed.
14 He is not deaf to the wail of the orphan, nor
to the widow when she pours out her complaint;
 16 The one who serves God willingly is heard;
his petition reaches the heavens. 17 The prayer
of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest
till it reaches its goal, 18 Nor will it withdraw till
the Most High responds, judges justly and
affirms the right, and the Lord will not delay.
The focus is the prayer of the lowly.

3. 1st
reading: Sirach 35,12-14.16-18
The God of justice
 12 The Lord is a God of justice, who knows no favorites.
13 Though not unduly partial toward the weak, yet he
hears the cry of the oppressed. 14 He is not deaf to the
wail of the orphan, nor to the widow when she pours out
her complaint;
The Prayer of the Lowly
 16 The one who serves God willingly is heard; his
petition reaches the heavens. 17 The prayer of the
lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest till it reaches its
goal, 18 Nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds,
judges justly and affirms the right, and the Lord will not
delay.
A simple outline!

4. Textual Context of Sir 35,12-14.16-18
Sirach (TEV)
Part I In praise of wisdom (1,1—23,27)
a. Duty, reward, and practical advise (1,1—16,23)
b. God’s wisdom and human response (16,24—23,27)
Part 2 In praise of wisdom (24,1—50,21)
a. Wisdom and virtue (24,1—32,13)
b. God’s wisdom and human worship and work
(32,14—42,14)
c. God’s glory in nature (42,15—43,33)
d. In praise of ancestors (44,1—50,21)
Epilogue and Appendices (50,22—51,30)

5. 1st
reading: Sirach 35,12-14.16-18
The God of justice
 12 The Lord is a God of
justice, who knows no
favorites. 13 Though not
unduly partial toward the
weak, yet he hears the cry
of the oppressed. 14 He is
not deaf to the wail of the
orphan, nor to the widow
when she pours out her
complaint;
The Prayer of the Lowly
 16 The one who serves God
willingly is heard; his petition
reaches the heavens. 17
The prayer of the lowly
pierces the clouds; it does
not rest till it reaches its
goal, 18 Nor will it withdraw
till the Most High responds,
judges justly and affirms the
right, and the Lord will not
delay.
Commentary
 The Book of Sirach is one of the
Deuterocanonical books of the OT.
 The text is divided into two sections.
 Section I is about the God of justice.
Vv.12-14
 Section II is about the prayer of the
lowly. Vv.16-18
 In v.12, the God of justice has no favorites.
 In v.13, if ever he has favorites, it is the
weak and the oppressed. God has a certain
bias for them.
 God’s favorites are also the orphans and the
widow. V.14
 Vv.16-18 tell something about the prayer of
the lowly.
 Is heard (by God)
 Petition goes to heaven
 Pierces the clouds
 Does not rest, till it reaches its goal.
 Does not withdraw till God responds

6. Reflections on the first reading
 Our God is a God of justice.
 He has a special affection for the weak, the
orphan and the widow.
 God hears / pays attention to their prayers and
cries.
 There is hope for the poor.
 Therefore the poor must learn how to pray.
 Through prayer, we affirm that God is justice and
we can rely upon his help.
 Poverty should not be used as an excuse for not
praying.

7. Responsorial Ps 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23
 R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
2 I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
3 Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
 17 The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
18 When the just cry out, the Lord hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
 19 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
23 The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.

8. Responsorial Ps 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23
 R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry
of the poor.
2 I will bless the LORD at all
times;
his praise shall be ever in my
mouth.
3 Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be
glad.
 17 The LORD confronts the
evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them
from the earth.
18 When the just cry out, the
Lord hears them,
and from all their distress he
rescues them.
 19 The LORD is close to the
brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in
spirit he saves.
23 The LORD redeems the lives
of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes
refuge in him.
Commentary
 The psalm is classified as a thanksgiving
hymn.
 The psalm expresses the message of the
first reading in prayer form.
 In v.2, the psalmist promises to bless and
praise the Lord at all times.
 In v.3, the psalmist seeks to find
happiness in the Lord. The poor are
happy when the psalmist glorifies God.
 In v.17, God is hard on wicked people,
evildoers, unjust, violent ones.
 In v.18, God favors the just. He rescues
them when in danger.
 In v.19, God also favors the poor, the
brokenhearted, those who are put down.
 In v.23, God is acclaimed as redeemer.
To redeem is to ransom.
 To put oneself into the hands of God is a
right thing to do.

9. Reflections on the Psalm
 Like the Psalmist, we can make important theological
affirmations.
 Can we say from our hearts that God favors the poor
and he rescues them?
 It takes faith to say it.
 It takes a trying experience to be able to utter such
statements with passion.
 We cannot really pray and give praise to God if we
are not aware (or if we deny) that we have been in a
critical situation and that we have been saved from it.

10. 2nd
reading: 2 Timothy 4,6-8.16-18
 6 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.
The focus is on Paul’s end.

11. 2nd
reading: 2 Timothy 4,6-8.16-18
Paul’s end
 6 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.
Paul’s feeling of being abandoned
 16 At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone
deserted me. May it not be held against them!
God’s rescue
 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.
The focus is also on God’s help.

12. Textual Context of 2 Tim 4,6-8.16-18
 Introduction (1,1-2)
 Praise and Exhortation (1,3—2,12)
 Counsel and Warning (2,14—4,5)
 Paul’s own situation (4,6-18)
 Conclusion (4,19-22)

13. 2nd
reading: 2 Timothy 4,6-8.16-18
Paul’s end
 6 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.
Paul’s feeling of being
abandoned
 16 At my first defense no
one appeared on my behalf,
but everyone deserted me.
May it not be held against
them!
Commentary
 In v.6, Paul is resigned to die. He is
imprisoned.
 In v.7, Paul sees his death as the
end of his competition / race. There
will be no more struggles,
arguments, fatigue, etc.
 V.8 indicates the reward of Paul
(crown of righteousness) at Christ’s
second
 There is also a reward for others who
long for God’s appearance.
 In v.16, Paul’s feels abandoned
during the trial. Nobody comes to his
rescue or stands by him.
 He wishes those expected to stand
by him won’t be punished.

14. 2nd
reading: 2 Timothy 4,6-8.16-18
God’s rescue
 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.
 In v.17, Paul acknowledges the
presence of God.
 His presence is active, strengthens
him.
 Even the last moments of his life,
Paul considers himself as an
instrument of God’s word.
 V.18 indicates Paul’s different
meaning of “rescue”.
 Here it means God saves him from
what keeps him from going to
heaven (not rescue from prison and
death).

15. Reflections on the second reading
 Death is something we cannot avoid.
 If we are Christ’s believers, it does not mean
we don’t die anymore, or we are spared of
sufferings and abandonment.
 Christians must have proper attitude toward
their sufferings and death.
 Like Paul, we have to consider death as end
of our race and struggles.
 Death is our entrance to heaven.

16. Gospel reading: Luke 18,9-14
Introduction
 9 Jesus 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.
The Pharisee
 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.'
The Tax Collector
 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.'
Conclusion
 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."
A simple outline!

17. Textual Context of Luke 18,9-14
18,1-8 The Parable of the Widow and the Judge
18,9-14 The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
18,15-17 Jesus blesses Little Children
18,18-30 The Rich Man
18,31-34 Jesus Speaks a Third Time about his Death
18,35-43 Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar

18. Gospel reading: Luke 18,9-14
Introduction
 9 Jesus 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.
The Pharisee
 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.'
The Tax Collector
 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.'
Commentary
 The gospel reading is about the Pharisee
and the tax collector (Publican)
 It is addressed to the righteous
(Pharisees).
 V.10 contrasts the Pharisee and the tax
collector in their prayer.
 V.11 describes how the Pharisee prays:
 Takes up his position (to be recognized)
 He despises others.
 He enumerates his accomplishments.
 V.13 describes how the tax collector
prays:
 Stands off at a distance (not desiring
to be recognized)
 Does not raise his eyes (feeling of
unworthiness)
 Beats his breast (sorry for having
offended God)
 Asks for mercy and forgiveness.
 Recognizes himself a sinner.

19. Gospel reading: Luke 18,9-14
Conclusion
 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."
 V.14 God accepts the prayer of the
tax collector and goes home
justified (he pleased God); God
rejects the prayer of the Pharisee.
 The lesson: we must be humble
when approaching God.

20. Reflections on the gospel reading
 When praying, we must be humble.
 We do not need to remind God of the sins of
others and our accomplishments. That is
boasting, exalting ourselves.
 God prefers to listen to our prayers if we
humble ourselves.
 God appreciates the prayer of the lowly ones.
 God rejects the prayer of those who do not
admit their faults and failures.
 God rejects self-righteous people.

21. Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm
 The first reading teaches us that the prayer of the
humble and the lowly are acceptable to God.
 The psalm helps us to articulate a true and humble
prayer.
 The second reading teaches us that in our desperate
situation God is with us. We are not alone in our
sufferings. Like St. Paul, we have to acknowledge his
presence. This is prayer.
 The gospel reading teaches us that we should be
humble when we pray.
God has a special relationship with the poor and the lowly. God listens to
their prayers. Are we poor and lowly? We do not just talk in terms of
material things but most of all of attitude.

22. How to develop your homily/sharing
 How do you approach God?
 When you pray before him, what do you bring
to him?
 Do you boast of your accomplishments in the
Church, your donations, your accumulated titles
and positions, and attendance in the meetings?

23.  According to the gospel reading, the right way to
approach God in prayer is that of a lowly, self-effacing
person and a repentant sinner.
 We must learn how to be humble.
 Like the Publican, you bring to God your nothingness,
your sinfulness, your poverty. You admit your filth
before him. You admit that you have been wrong and
God has been right all the time.
 In this way, you will go home justified (favored), with a
good mark.
 God justifies you / he declares that you have done the
right thing in his presence.

24.  God rejects people who pray like the Pharisee in the
gospel.
 If you are praying that way, you are just your wasting
time. You won’t gain favor from God.
 God does not require us to enumerate our
accomplishments (our vouchers, deeds of donations,
our receipts) in order to listen to us.
 We should refrain from praying or going to church, if
only to seek recognition from God or anyone, and if we
have no intention to change.
 We should respect our churches and houses of prayer.
 These are places of conversion, not of boasting and
grandstanding.

25.  The first reading clearly assures that the
prayer of the humble and the lowly reaches
the ears of God.
 God is attuned to their groaning and to their
voices in prayer.
 Their cries do not go to waste.
 God answers them by giving justice.

26.  The second reading displays the courage of
Paul in the face of death and abandonment of
his friends.
 In his suffering and loneliness, he reveals his
faith: God is with him.
 You can feel God’s presence in times of
difficulties only when you humbly pray, when
you submit / surrender yourself (and all your
troubles) to him.

27.  In our churches, we need teachers of prayers.
 Many of our church leaders (members of
mandated organizations) do not know how to
pray.
 They are not changed when they pray.
 They use the church to advance their
personal agenda.
 Our leaders and members should lead the
people to pray.

28.  Each churchgoer, Christian, Catholic, must
know how to lead prayers (the rosary,
angelus, etc.).
 Can you, father and mother, lead the prayers
in your family?
 You should be ashamed of yourself if you
can’t until now.

29.  Participation in the eucharistic celebration is
the highest form of humble prayer.
 In the eucharist, we accept that God is better
than us, that someone has performed better
than us.
 In the eucharist, Jesus comes to teach us
that life is a matter of humble self-giving to
others.

30. Our Context of Sin and Grace
 Boastful
 Self-righteous
 Using the liturgy to seek
attention
 Always proud of his/her
accomplishments
 Praying without
conversion
 Humble
 Prayers with humility
 Prays like Mama Mary
(Magnificat)
 Prays to extol God
 Penitent
 Willing to be converted
 Self-effacing
 Unnoticed, almost
invisible before, during
and after praying

31. Suggested Songs
 Like a Sunflower
 Hear, O Lord by Ray Repp
 Cry of the Poor (Psalm)
 Theme of Life
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NiqOkXYY0A
 When We Eat
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qg_-wvSm7M
 Ama Namin, 1593
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g3XxLVkq30

32.  Dear sisters and brothers,
 Let us humble ourselves always. Don't wait
for others and God to humble us.
 Fr. Cielo