Delivered by Lukitananda, Karen Gosal, Maverick, and Maria Delie from the Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Sirach 35: 12-14.16-18; Rs psalm 34: 2-3.17-18.19.23; 2 Timothy 4: 6-8.16-18; Luke 18: 9-14.

TWO VIRTUES INPRAYING

The title for ourmeditation on this 30th Sunday in ordinary time is: Two Virtues in Praying. Therewas a young man once shared his story of meeting an old friend who was quite closeto him. To this old friend, a girl, he hoped to really opened a new page oflove. Since he was in serious trouble with his current girlfriend, that meetingindeed served to fill up his empty heart. They always came to the church and seenby many as if intending to pray or to participate in the celebration of theholy Masses. Yet in fact, they just wanted to date all the time. The churchonly became the safe place for them to date and escape from their parents’scontrol.

Today our liturgicalreadings give us inspiration about two important virtues in prayer. Theimportance of prayer is something that cannot be taken for granted because it showsthe intention of believers to pray, to make them worthy before God or not. Godsees the intention of our hearts before we want to pray. That intention is in ourminds and purpose of our hearts.

The first is the virtueof availability. A person who has awareness, willingness, preparation of selfis the one who needs to pray. His time for God through prayer is irreplaceable.The need for spiritual growth is realized through a constant and ferventprayer. Willingness to worship God through daily prayers and reception of theSacraments becomes part of his life-style. He knows that he needs God, so heprepares himself bodily and spiritually to have a meaningful encounter withGod.

The persons of thePharisee and tax collector in today's Gospel reading represent how believershave the opportunity to pray, where they can meet and dialogue with God. We asbelievers have this virtue in common. Faith education in the families, schoolsand churches plays a very important role to make people faithful and devoutedto God. Whereas those who are lazy, boring and avoiding prayer or worship areconsidered the people of weak faith.

The second is the virtueof humility. In prayer, the very fundamental condition that believers must obeyis their being humans who come to dialogue with the almighty God, the perfectbeing. The knowledge of God is perfect, therefore, He knows and seeseverything. We are sinners, poor, ordinary people who depend all things on God.If we communicate with God only to affirm our righteousness and even perfectaction just like God himself, it is actually not prayer but a sharing of experiences.The Pharisees did pray in this manner.

When we commit to praywith humility, we should follow the tax collector's way who is so sincere abouthimself as a sinner, saint Paul who is grateful to carry out his task to theend, and the poor-ones whose prayers can penetrate the clouds, as our firstreading says. If we humans pray truly in our real situation of life, then Godpleases to be with us and gives what we ask for.

Let's pray. In the name of the Father... O my good Lord, may this Sunday celebration help us to become good andeffective prayerful persons. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the HolySpirit ... In the name  of the Father...