Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection October 26, 2025
Sunday – 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
26th October 2025 (Sunday)
Psalter: Week 2
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Sirach 35:15b-17, 20-22a
The Lord is the judge, and with him is no partiality. He will not show partiality in the case of a poor man; and he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged. He will not ignore the supplication of the orphan or the widow when she pours out her story. He whose service is pleasing to the Lord will be accepted, and his prayer will reach to the clouds. The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds, and he will not be consoled until it reaches the Lord; he will not desist until the Most High visits him and does justice for the righteous and executes judgment.
Psalm 34:2-3, 17-18, 19 and 23 (R. see 7a)
R/. The lowly one called, and the Lord heard him
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Beloved: I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, Which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. At my first defence no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. In Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel: Luke 18:9-14
At that time: Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get. But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Sunday – 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Main Point: Lack of humility makes one self-righteous. And self-righteousness is a big block on the way to righteousness
1. Our God is a God of righteousness. In Him, there is no partiality or prejudice. God in His Son Jesus redeemed us and made us righteous. He wants to keep us continually righteous. That is why He wants to liberate us from falsity, deviation, and perversion of sin. He wants to make us right and upright.
2. But self-righteousness is a big block to this righteousness. Self-righteousness is a mindset that makes one full of self. Consequently one cannot make enough space for God, for the true self, and others. Self-righteousness makes one self-centered and not God-centered, ego-dominated, and ego-promoting.
3. It makes one so proud and arrogant. Consequently, one is not humble before God and remains closed, presumptuous, and pretentious. One is not able to detect his false self and discover and foster his true self. And one is also not able to recognise, accept and appreciate others with their goodness.
4. What then is the remedy and antidote? It is humility that is threefold, namely, toward God, self, and others. We need that humility that makes us conscious of God’s holiness and greatness, realise and admit our sinfulness and unworthiness, see His mercy and forgiveness, depend on Him, take us closer to Him, and be surrendered to His holy will and ways. As Sirach affirms, “The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds…it reaches the Lord… the Most High visits him and does justice.”
5. St Paul’s words, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith, and I await the crown of righteousness,” may sound rather boastful and presumptuous. But they actually disclose his depth of authenticity and conviction. It is not confidence in his merit. Rather it is the deepest faith in God’s righteousness.
6. There is in fact an implicit humility. This makes Paul attribute to God’s grace all that he accomplished, and do everything for God. That is why we find such expressions as “I am poured out as a libation”; “The Lord, the righteous judge will award to me”; “But the Lord alone stood by me and strengthened me”; “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom”; “To him be the glory forever and ever.”
7. Then, we need that humility toward our own self. It enables us to see ourselves as we are. It makes us sincere enough to acknowledge our weaknesses and imperfections. True humility makes us throw away our false layers and masks that sheathe, hide, justify or defend our defects. It makes us discover and strengthen our true self, in God’s image and likeness.
8. Thus, on one hand, true humility keeps us down to earth in virtue of our fragility and on the other hand makes us soar high to grow in nobility. This happens through a steady process of self-realisation, self-acceptance, self-discipline, self-renewal, and self-transformation.
9. We need that humility in regard to others that makes us fraternal and charitable. One who is humble does recognize the dignity and the value of the other and so treats him with respect and honour. He does not despise or discard or degrade the other. He does not stick false labels on others in prejudice and discrimination. He readily acknowledges and appreciates the worth of the other.
10. In our parable at hand, the Pharisee is a symbol of self-righteousness. He is a total failure in humility in all three aspects, concerning God, self, and the other. He failed in the spirit of true devotion and communion with God. He failed in the true spirit of authenticity and integrity of self. He failed in the true spirit of fraternity and charity toward others.
11. On the other side, the tax collector stands as an example of deep humility: he realises his unworthiness due to sinfulness, realises his true self that needs to be renewed, and is truly charitable with no bias or judgmental attitude.
12. So sad it is that the self-righteous Pharisee resides in all of us in varying degrees but many are not even aware of it. And even if aware, they refuse to admit it; even if admitted, they are not bothered to work to change for the better. Money, power, position, competence and efficiency, and recognition make many self-conceited, arrogant, and self-glorifying.
My Practice: Loss of humility is loss of nobility and thus is the loss of fidelity, felicity, serenity, and eternity
