Reflection for March 14 Saturday of the Third Week of Lent: Luke 18:9-14

Gospel: Luke 18:9-14

Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. 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. 

I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ 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.’ 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.”

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Reflection:

Is Humility the Weakness of God?

In the Gospel, we see the humility of the tax collector. Standing before God, he did not pretend to be righteous. Instead, he humbly admitted his sinfulness and acknowledged his unworthiness. He knew that before God he was nothing and deserved nothing. Yet it was precisely because of this humble attitude that he went home justified and blessed by God.

The secret to gaining the favor of God, therefore, is humility and an honest awareness of our own shortcomings and limitations. The tax collector who received God’s favor was deeply aware of his sinfulness. He did not try to hide it from God. Perhaps he did not fully realize that God already knew everything about him. What mattered was that he recognized his own brokenness and sincerely cried out to God for mercy.

It is a beautiful truth that the humble have the attentive ears and loving gaze of God. When we humble ourselves before Him, we open our hearts to His grace. Humility not only draws us closer to God; it also earns the respect and trust of others. Many of us hesitate to be humble because we mistakenly see humility as a sign of weakness. But humility is not weakness—it is strength. In fact, those who are truly humble often inspire deeper respect than those who constantly seek to elevate themselves.

Yet becoming humble before Jesus and before one another is not easy. It requires sacrifice and the willingness to surrender our pride. It calls us to recognize that everything we have—our talents, achievements, and blessings—ultimately comes from God. When we stand before Him, we realize that we have nothing to boast about except His mercy and love.

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton once said, “The gate of Heaven is very low; only the humble can enter it.” These words remind us that humility is not merely a virtue—it is a path that leads us closer to God. If we truly desire to experience His favor, guidance, and peace, we must learn to walk the quiet but powerful path of humility.

As we reflect on this message today, let us ask ourselves: Are we willing to set aside our pride, humble our hearts before God, and trust that true greatness is found not in exalting ourselves, but in surrendering ourselves to Him?— Marino J. Dasmarinas