Walk in Humility

In the Scripture readings which the Church provides for us today, prayer is the focus. I would
like to draw three points about prayer from them. These points are that prayer needs to have
perseverance and humility and that it is not primarily our action.
First, perseverance. In the first reading, it says that “The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds,
and it will not rest until it reaches its goal.” (Sir 35:21) Prayer is not a one time thing. It is a
constant fidelity, regardless of how it makes us feel. When it seems like God is ignoring us,
ignoring our plea, perhaps it is to help us recognize our dependence on Him. If He gave us what
we asked for right away, it would seem like our prayers are what brought about the answer and
not His loving gift. And so, we need to place ourselves and our needs before God in prayer with
perseverance.
Second, humility. This ties into perseverance. God answers the prayers of the humble because
they know themselves in relation to God; they know their own inadequacy before Him. It is this
knowledge of ourselves, this knowledge of our insufficiency that renders us capable of
persevering in prayer. This can be seen in Gospel reading. The Pharisee knew himself only in
relation to others: “I thank you that I am not like other people.” (Lk 18:11) The tax collector
acknowledged his sinfulness and inadequacy and thus, went home justified.
And lastly, prayer is not primarily our action. Prayer is our response to God. It is not something
we do for Him; but rather, it is our loving response to Him having loved us. “Whoever humbles
himself will be exalted.” (Lk 18:14) It is God who exalts us, not ourselves. Nothing we do could
ever merit the love He gives us. And so, in prayer, we offer Him our sinful and inadequate selves
in love as an acceptance of His continuing love.
Like St. Paul says in the second reading; “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I
have kept the faith.” (2 Tim 4:7) He had persevered to the end. Abandoned by all, he was
inadequate. Yet God hears the persevering prayer of the humble and gave him the strength he
needed.