wo key points Father Antonysamy Susairaj wants to share with us today are: during prayer, we must humble ourselves and acknowledge our sins!

In the Gospel reading for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C (Luke 18:9-14), which speaks about "The Pharisee and the Tax Collector," Father Antonysamy Susairaj, who is currently in charge of St. Joseph's Parish in Kdol Leu, shared the following reflection:

The Gospel narrative tells the story of two men who went up to pray, and both were vastly different from one another! Let us reflect on the actions of the Pharisee. He always did everything to observe the law, sacrificing his wealth and time to please God. Yet, he constantly boasted about his own deeds and judged the tax collector as being inferior to him. The Pharisee's behavior rendered his prayer fruitless, because it did not please the Lord.

As for the tax collector, when he prayed, he stood at a distance. His expression and gestures conveyed deep, gentle humility and true supplication as he beat his breast and prayed: "O God, be merciful to me, a sinner." Jesus said that when this man went home, he was at peace.

Father Antony emphasized: "For us, the Church in Cambodia, we need to learn and understand the ways of these two men. Even though one prayed with arrogance, he still prayed. Even though the other humbled himself, he also prayed. But as for us, there are some who do not even pray at all. We must want to be humble; we must desire to lower ourselves. Whenever we lose hope and our strength fails, that is when the Lord grants us His light."

Today’s Gospel reading wants to explain to us that whenever we lose hope, whenever we are exhausted, and whenever our hearts ache in pain, these moments are not the end of our lives. God forgives us, sends light to illuminate our lives, and grants us peace.

Therefore, today, let us find peace once again and pray: "O Lord! We thank You. When we have lost hope, when we are discouraged, and when our hearts are wounded, it is then that You hear our supplications and give us light." In this, God evaluates our lives based on how we plead with Him and how we humble ourselves. Jesus does not expect grand achievements from our lives; rather, He wants us to know how to be humble.

By: Roeun Sreymach