22 August 2027 · Syro-Malankara Rite
Open in the Daily Word appAlso: മലയാളം
“But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”” Luke 18:13
Two men go up to the temple to pray. The Pharisee stands and prays about himself: “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.” The tax collector stands far off, will not lift his eyes, beats his breast and says: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” Jesus says: “this man went down to his home justified rather than the other.” Prayer is not a report of our achievements; it is the cry of a poor heart before God's mercy.
The tax collector's prayer has become the prayer of the Eastern Churches: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Our Qurbono is full of “Kurielaison”, Lord have mercy. Ecclesiastes warns: “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God… God is in heaven, and you upon earth; therefore let your words be few.” God does not need many words, but an honest and humble heart.
In the evening Gospel Jesus teaches perseverance: a man goes to his friend at midnight asking for three loaves; because of his persistence the friend gets up and gives him what he needs. “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you… how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Humble prayer is also bold and persistent.
St Paul, given great revelations, received “a thorn in the flesh”. Three times he begged the Lord to remove it, and the Lord said: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So Paul boasts of his weakness, “so that the power of Christ may dwell in me… for whenever I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9–10). The tax collector's weakness, offered to God, becomes the place of grace.
Theme: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”
Two men pray in the temple: one boasts, the other begs for mercy. Jesus teaches us to ask, seek and knock. Today is also the memorial of the Beheading of St John the Baptist, who said: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
“The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Psalm 51:17
“But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other.” Luke 18:13–14
Apply: Pray the tax collector's prayer several times each day this week.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2
“So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.” Luke 11:9
Apply: Ask the Father daily this week for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
“But Noah found favor in the sight of the LORD.” Genesis 6:8
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
Apply: Offer one weakness to God, and let his grace work through it.
The humble are lifted up, the persistent are heard, the weak are made strong by grace.
Let us pray as the tax collector, trust like Noah, and decrease like John.
Take-home resolution: Prepare for the Eight Days' Fast (1–8 September) in honour of Mary's Nativity.
Dear brothers and sisters, two men went up to the temple to pray. The Pharisee stood and listed his good works: I fast twice a week, I give tithes, and I thank you that I am not like other people, especially this tax collector. The tax collector stood far off, did not dare raise his eyes, beat his breast and prayed: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” Jesus says: the second went home justified.
The Pharisee was not a bad man. He did many good things. But his prayer was about himself, and it ended in contempt for his neighbour. The tax collector had nothing to boast about, and so he had room for God's mercy. St Augustine says: the Pharisee showed the doctor only his healthy parts; the tax collector showed his wounds, and so he was healed.
The tax collector's prayer became the Jesus Prayer of our Eastern tradition: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” It is short, as Ecclesiastes advises: “let your words be few.” And in the evening Gospel Jesus teaches us to be persistent: ask, search, knock, like the friend at midnight. Humble prayer is not timid; it keeps knocking.
St Paul learned the same lesson. He asked God three times to take away his thorn, and God answered: “My grace is sufficient for you; my power is made perfect in weakness.” This week, pray the Jesus Prayer often, stop comparing yourself with others, and prepare for the Eight Days' Fast in honour of our Mother. Amen.
Children, two men went to pray. One said: “God, I'm so good, better than him!” The other said: “God, I'm sorry, please be kind to me.”
Jesus said God was happy with the second man, because he was humble.
Let's learn a short prayer: “Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me.” You can say it anytime!
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Free us from the pride that compares and despises; teach us to pray with humility and persistence; and let your grace be sufficient for us, your power made perfect in our weakness. Amen.