March 14, 2026 Saturday of the Third Week of Lent Gospel: Luke 18:9-14 Imitate the Tax Collector, Humbly Recognizing Our Unworthiness
Today is the Saturday of the Third Week of Lent. The Gospel passage taken from Saint Luke recounts the scene of a Pharisee and a tax collector praying in the Temple. We know the Temple was a place of worship and adoration of God. So too is our present-day church: within its walls, hidden in the tabernacle, is the Word of God made flesh; there is the altar, the lectern, and the choir, which sings hymns praising God; there are lectors who proclaim God’s Word in language we can understand; there is our beloved priest, who preaches from the Ambo; and there are the people of God, who approach the altar to pay homage to God according to their custom and in obedience to the Church’s teachings. The Pharisee Jesus speaks of refers to those Jews who strictly observed the laws of God but emphasized external rituals, sought the praise of others, and often clashed with Him. Some biblical scholars note that tax collectors abandoned their faith, betrayed their own people for money, and became exploiters even of the poor. Thus, in our eyes, neither of these two men was righteous—both were sinners. From the Pharisee’s prayer (cf. Luke 18:11-12), we see his heart: he desired recognition from God, considering himself righteous and condemning those he deemed unworthy to pray to God. He hoped God would publicly condemn the tax collector, just as he did. To him, the God who heard his prayers was one who rewards the good and punishes the wicked—and by “good,” he meant those who obeyed the laws he had added to God’s commandments. The tax collector was different: unlike the Pharisee (cf. Luke 18:13), he did not boast of his own deeds. He dared not even lift his eyes to God, setting an example for us.
As we come to church today, let us imitate this tax collector: sit quietly before the altar, not boasting as the Pharisee did, but offering a prayer to God in the simplest words. This simple prayer is: “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner, that I may fix my gaze on Your mysteries.”May He grant us various graces according to His holy will.
Rejoicing in this annual celebration of our Lenten observance, we pray, O Lord, that, with our hearts set on the paschal mysteries, we may be gladdened by their full effects. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,God, for ever and ever. Amen.
今天教會慶祝聖斐理謙和聖伯爾伯都亞的自由紀念敬禮日。聖人傳記告訴我們:他們是西元3世紀的殉道聖人。聖伯爾伯都亞(Perpetua)是受過良好教育的貴族女子,她在22歲時殉道,正哺乳一幼子。那與聖伯爾伯都亞(Perpetua)一同被捕的聖斐理謙(Felicity)在被捕的時候正懷有身孕。初期教會史學家凱撒勒雅的聖歐瑟伯(Eusebius of Caesarea)告訴我們:這兩位殉道者在西元203年左右為主殉道。
羅傑·巴克斯特(Roger Baxter)在其《沉思錄》(Meditations)寫道:這個小兒子,他離開父家,就陷入了不幸。他開始感到匱乏。那些離開聖事,勸言和諸多美德的罪人,很快就會缺乏屬靈的食糧。(參看:Meditations For Every Day In the Year. New York: Benziger Brothers)福音經文中提到的當地居民,就是那些遵循這個終將消逝的世界的邏輯的人,凡遵循這個終將消逝的世界的邏輯的人,就是魔鬼的奴隸。他很想吃那豬吃的莢果,表明他渴望用這個世界的一切,滿足其渴望。
今天教会庆祝圣斐理谦和圣伯尔伯都亚的自由纪念敬礼日。圣人传记告诉我们:他们是公元3世纪的殉道圣人。圣伯尔伯都亚(Perpetua)是受过良好教育的贵族女子,她在22岁时殉道,正哺乳一幼子。那与圣伯尔伯都亚(Perpetua)一同被捕的圣斐理谦(Felicity)在被捕的时候正怀有身孕。初期教会史学家凯撒勒雅的圣欧瑟伯(Eusebius of Caesarea)告诉我们:这两位殉道者在公元203年左右为主殉道。
罗杰·巴克斯特(Roger Baxter)在其《沉思录》(Meditations)写道:这个小儿子,他离开父家,就陷入了不幸。他开始感到匮乏。那些离开圣事,劝言和诸多美德的罪人,很快就会缺乏属灵的食粮。(参看:Meditations For Every Day In the Year. New York: Benziger Brothers)福音经文中提到的当地居民,就是那些遵循这个终将消逝的世界的逻辑的人,凡遵循这个终将消逝的世界的逻辑的人,就是魔鬼的奴隶。他很想吃那猪吃的荚果,表明他渴望用这个世界的一切,满足其渴望。
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