Deeds done in humility
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October 25, 2025If you would come face to face with God today at the end of your life and asked you, "Why should I let you in my Kingdom?" What would be your response?
For many of us, we would think of the many good things we have done, - how many times we offered prayers for the souls in purgatory, how many times we attended mass, offered donations for the Church, served in charitable works and the list would go on and on. These good deeds that we can think of could justify our entry into God's Kingdom. The more good works, the more chances of getting into heaven.
In our Gospel this 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jesus uses a parable to clear out the way we look at how we are being justified. Two people went into the temple to pray, a Pharisee and a tax collector. The first one presented himself with all of his righteous deeds, the other could not even raise his eyes to heaven while asking God's mercy for being a sinner. Jesus said, "I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:14)
In what way we are justified? Jesus tells us that God looks and accepts the one who searches for mercy and in humility asks for forgiveness not the one who, with confidence sees himself as righteous and seemingly without fault. This is not to set aside oneís capacity for good deeds but looking into the attitude that sets one apart from the other that ultimately leads to being self-righteous and looks down on others because of their faults. Listing all our righteous deeds as justification for being accepted to God's Kingdom is like letting God know how pure we are, boasting for a righteous life leads to self-trust and pride, eventually denying the fact that every righteousness that we have is because of the grace and mercy of God.
In the First Reading from the Book Sirach, it says, ìThe prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest until it reaches its goal, nor will it withdraw until the Most High responds.î (Sirach 35:21) God looks at the lowliness of our heart and our willingness to accept our weakness not just the righteous deeds that we have. True humility is accepting the fact that though we have good deeds, we have also sinned. However, that is not the end of it. Accepting that we are sinners should always lead us to that important space for conversion and transformation through the grace of God.
In the celebration of the holy mass, we approach the altar not just presenting the good deeds that we have, not with an attitude of believing we can be justified by our good works alone. But in humility, acknowledging our faults, we approach Him with a contrite heart and hoping for God's infinite goodness and mercy, through His grace, we are justified.
Again, if God asks you now, "Why should I let you in my Kingdom?" Answer Him truthfully.